Iran accused the United States of being complicit in Israel's attacks on its nuclear facilities and declared continued dialogue with Washington over its nuclear programme "meaningless" following Israel's most extensive military assault on Iranian soil, as several UN Security Council members condemned the strikes as violations of international law.
At an emergency UN Security Council session, Iran's Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani condemned Israel's attacks on its nuclear facilities, calling it a "direct consequence of the case of inaction on double standards" and expressing gratitude to "Algeria, Pakistan, China and the Russian Federation for their support in convening this emergency session."
"The aggression was intentional, coordinated and fully backed by a permanent member of this council, the United States," Iravani said. "The United States' complicity in this terrorist attack is beyond doubt."
The Iranian envoy described the latest hostilities as "not a regional issue" but "a direct assault on the international order, an attack on the Charter of the United Nations, the UN system, the global nuclear non-proliferation regime, as well as the authority of the IAEA."
Describing the Middle East as a "cauldron of chronic instability" since Israel's creation in 1948, Iravani called for Israel to "be disarmed of all weapons of mass destruction, placed under international supervision and held fully accountable."
"Iran's response will be firm, lawful and essential to restore deterrence, defend our sovereignty and uphold the principles of international law," he added, calling on the council to "condemn, in the strongest possible terms, Israeli unlawful aggression."
Iran's UN ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani and Israel's UN ambassador Danny Danon have exchanged threats of further retaliation during a United Nations Security Council meeting.
— SBS News (@SBSNews) October 3, 2024
Read more: https://t.co/v3o6SPG6rf pic.twitter.com/K0CNE7D2bI
International condemnation
Russia's UN envoy Vassily Nebenzia called Israel's strikes an "unprovoked attack" and "a gross violation of the UN Charter and international law," warning that Israel's "military adventure pushes the region to the brink of a large-scale war."
"One is left with the impression that the leadership of Israel is convinced that they have a completely free hand in the region," Nebenzia said, condemning Israel's actions.
China's UN envoy Fu Cong condemned the Israeli strikes, arguing they violated "Iran's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity," while calling on "countries with significant influence over Israel" to "practically play a constructive role."
Algeria's envoy Amar Bendjama said "Israelis act like international law does not exist or simply does not apply to them," describing Israel as "sowing chaos throughout the region." Noting that a "genocide is unfolding before our eyes" in Gaza, he called Israel's behavior that of "a rogue state."
Pakistan's envoy Asim Iftikhar Ahmad called the Israeli strikes "unjustified and illegitimate aggression," pledging Pakistan's "resolute solidarity" with Iran and emphasizing that "Iran has the right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter."
"The fact that these attacks against Iran have happened in the middle of a negotiations process aimed at finding a peaceful diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue makes it all the more morally repugnant," Ahmad said.
Israeli justification and IUS reponse
Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon justified the attacks as "an act of national preservation," claiming Iran had been "preparing for war" despite providing no evidence. Danon said Israel had been patient despite mounting risks.
"We waited for diplomacy to work ... We watched negotiations stretch on, as Iran made false concessions or refused the most fundamental conditions," Danon told the Security Council. He said intelligence had confirmed Iran could have produced enough fissile material for multiple bombs within days.
Senior US official McCoy Pitt denied American military involvement while acknowledging Washington was informed of Israel's strikes ahead of time. The United States told Tehran at the UN Security Council that it would be "wise" to negotiate over its nuclear programme.
"Iran's leadership would be wise to negotiate at this time," Pitt told the council, adding the US would continue seeking a diplomatic resolution to ensure Iran never acquires nuclear weapons.
Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in the wake of the Zionist regime’s military aggression against Iranhttps://t.co/TffBr7gXj0 pic.twitter.com/wWhOFbh7mq
— Tasnim News Agency (@Tasnimnews_EN) June 13, 2025
Miltary escalation
Israel launched a series of missile attacks across Iran on Friday, hitting military and nuclear sites and killing several senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders, including Generals Mohammad Baqeri and Hossein Salami, as well as prominent nuclear scientists.
Read: Iran's missiles rain down on Israel
Iran responded with retaliatory strikes later Friday, launching a barrage of ballistic missiles targeting Israeli cities and military installations. Israeli authorities reported at least three deaths and 91 injuries, while Tehran said 78 were killed and over 320 wounded in the initial Israeli offensive.
UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi told the Security Council that the above-ground pilot enrichment plant at Iran's Natanz nuclear site had been destroyed, and that Iran reported nuclear sites at Fordow and Isfahan were also attacked.
Spokesperson of Iran’s foreign ministry said on Friday the dialogue with the U.S. over Tehran's nuclear programme is "meaningless" following Israel’s attacks on governments positions and killing top IRGC commanders pic.twitter.com/NdFee6FXkQ
— Soran Khateri (@sorankhateri) June 14, 2025
Nucleat talks declared 'meaningless'
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei declared dialogue with Washington "meaningless" following the attacks, saying Israel "succeeded in influencing" the diplomatic process.
"The other side acted in a way that makes dialogue meaningless," Baghaei said, quoted by the semi-official Tasnim news agency. "You cannot claim to negotiate and at the same time permit the Zionist regime to attack Iranian territory."
US President Donald Trump said Friday he had given Tehran a 60-day ultimatum, which expired Thursday, to make a deal over its escalating uranium enrichment program.
A sixth round of US-Iran nuclear talks had been scheduled to take place in Oman on Sunday, but it remained unclear whether the talks would proceed after the Israeli strikes.
Trump told Reuters that he and his team had known the Israeli attacks were coming but they still saw room for an accord.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi held a telephone conversation Friday evening with UN Secretary General António Guterrez as part of Iran's continued diplomatic efforts regarding Israel's attacks.
Iranian FM holds phone call with UN secretary general
— Foreign Ministry, Islamic Republic of Iran 🇮🇷 (@IRIMFA_EN) June 13, 2025
As part of Iran’s continued diplomatic efforts regarding the Israeli regime’s aggression against Iran, Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi held a telephone conversation on Friday evening with #UN Secretary General António… pic.twitter.com/aa7QBD1tih
Iranian FM holds phone call with UN secretary general
— Foreign Ministry, Islamic Republic of Iran 🇮🇷 (@IRIMFA_EN) June 13, 2025
As part of Iran’s continued diplomatic efforts regarding the Israeli regime’s aggression against Iran, Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi held a telephone conversation on Friday evening with #UN Secretary General António… pic.twitter.com/aa7QBD1tih
Iran's permanent mission to the United Nations called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council following what it termed the "Zionist regime's military aggression against Iran."
Iran denies that its uranium enrichment programme is for anything other than civilian purposes, rejecting Israeli allegations that it is secretly developing nuclear weapons.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ