Iran vows self-defence with 'all force' after US strikes three nuclear installations
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei looks on, in a televised message following the Israeli strikes in Tehran, Iran, June 13, 2025. Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader. Photo: Reuters/ File
Iran’s Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned a US military strike on its nuclear facilities, calling the action an unprecedented breach of international law and a grave violation of the UN Charter.
In a statement, the Islamic Republic of Iran accused the United States of a “brutal military aggression” against its peaceful nuclear infrastructure.
Tehran held Washington fully responsible for what it called a “heinous crime” and warned of “dangerous consequences” stemming from the attack.
The strike, which took place in the early hours of the 10th day of Israel’s military attack against Iran, was described by Tehran as a joint effort between the US and Israel to wage war against the Iranian people.
The Foreign Ministry said the attack violated Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, which prohibits the use of force, and breached UN Security Council Resolution 2231.
“This act of aggression has exposed the criminal complicity between the United States and the Zionist regime,” the statement read, adding that the attack undermines global non-proliferation efforts.
Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of #Iran concerning the #UnitedStates military aggression against Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities
بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the… pic.twitter.com/GhSjSTtzx2Iran called on the United Nations, including Secretary-General António Guterres and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to respond swiftly.
Tehran urged the UN Security Council to convene an emergency session and to hold Washington accountable for what it described as an “egregious violation” of international norms.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran is resolved to defend its sovereignty, territory, security, and people by all means,” the ministry said, adding that silence in the face of such aggression would plunge the international community into chaos.
The statement also criticised the IAEA and its Director General for what it described as biased conduct, alleging that the Agency’s stance had paved the way for the escalation.
Reiterating its position as a founding UN member, Iran appealed to the global community to reject what it characterised as unlawful, unilateral aggression by the United States.
Tehran warned that failure to act would embolden further violations of international law.
Last week, we were in negotiations with the US when Israel decided to blow up that diplomacy.
This week, we held talks with the E3/EU when the US decided to blow up that diplomacy.
What conclusion would you draw?
To Britain and the EU High Rep, it is Iran which must "return"…Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister and nuclear negotiator, said that Israel and the US had repeatedly derailed diplomacy just as talks were underway.
“Last week, we were in negotiations with the US when Israel decided to blow up that diplomacy,” Araghchi posted on X, formerly Twitter. “This week, we held talks with the E3/EU when the US decided to blow up that diplomacy.”
He criticised Britain and the European Union for urging Iran to “return” to talks, saying Tehran never left the negotiating table.
“How can Iran return to something it never left, let alone blew up?” he added.
Washington enters Iran conflict
US forces struck Iran's three main nuclear sites, President Donald Trump said in a televised speech late on June 21 and he warned Tehran it would face more devastating attacks if it does not agree to peace.
After days of deliberation and long before his self-imposed two-week deadline, Trump's decision to join Israel's military invasion against its major rival Iran is a major escalation of the assault and risks opening a new era of instability in the Middle East.
"A short time ago, we carried out massive precision strikes on three nuclear facilities in the Iranian regime," announced Trump.
The strikes were a spectacular military success," Trump said in the White House televised address. "Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated."
In his speech that lasted just over three minutes, Trump said Iran's future held "either peace or tragedy,"and there were many other targets that could be hit by the US military.
"If they do not make peace, future attacks will be far greater, and a lot easier," added Trump, who was flanked by Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for his address on June 21 evening for US audiences AFP reported.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 22, 2025"Our objective was the destruction of Iran's nuclear capacity and a stop to the world's number one state-sponsored terror," Trump reposted his speech on X.
"If peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill."
According to AFP, the fresh US military entanglement comes despite Trump's promises to avoid another "forever war" in the Middle East.
Photo: Truth Social
Iran had vowed to retaliate against US forces in the region if Washington got involved.
Trump said earlier on his Truth Social site that a "full payload of BOMBS" was dropped on the underground facility at Fordo, describing it as the "primary site."
The US reached out to Iran diplomatically on Saturday to say the strikes are all the US plans and it does not aim for regime change, CBS News reported.
Trump said US forces struck Iran's three principal nuclear sites: Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow.
He told Fox News' Sean Hannity show that six bunker-buster bombs were dropped on Fordow, while 30 Tomahawk missiles were fired against other nuclear sites.
According to CNN, the Trump administration briefed top Republican lawmakers ahead of the attack on Iran, while Democratic leaders were not included in the initial briefing.
Photo: Truth SocialPreviously, US President Donald Trump made an announcement, via Trump’s Truth Social platform on Saturday, detailed that all aircraft involved in the mission had exited Iranian airspace without incident after attacking Iran's three nuclear sites.
“We have completed our very successful attack on the three nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter,” Trump posted.
Furthermore, after assaulting Iran's nuclear enrichment sites, Trump warned Iran on Truth Social platform, "ANY RETALIATION BY IRAN AGAINST THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WILL BE MET WITH FORCE FAR GREATER THAN WHAT WAS WITNESSED TONIGHT. THANK YOU! DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES"
Read: US launches bombing of Iran’s three nuclear facilities
US B-2 bombers
US B-2 bombers were involved in the attacks, a US official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow," Trump posted on Truth Social. "Fordow is gone."
Reuters had reported earlier on Saturday the movement of the B-2 bombers, which can be equipped to carry massive bombs that experts say would be needed to strike Fordow, which is buried beneath a mountain south of Tehran.
U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit bomber, assigned to the 509th Bomb Wing out of Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, performs a fly-over during the Speed of Sound Airshow, at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base in St. Joseph, Missouri, U.S. September 14, 2024. U.S. Air National Guard Photo:REUTERS
Given its fortification, it will likely be days, if not longer, before the impact of the strikes is known.
An Iranian official, cited by Tasnim news agency, confirmed part of the Fordow site was attacked by "enemy airstrikes."
However, Mohammad Manan Raisi, a lawmaker for Qom, near Fordow, told the semi-official Fars news agency the facility had not been seriously damaged.
Iranian media quoted Iran's nuclear body as saying there were no signs of contamination after the attacks, and no danger to residents living nearby.
Hassan Abedini, deputy political head of Iran's state broadcaster, said Iran had evacuated the three sites some time ago.
"The enriched uranium reserves had been transferred from the nuclear centres and there are no materials left there that, if targeted, would cause radiation and be harmful to our compatriots," he told the channel.
According to AFP, Trump did not say what kind of US planes or munitions were involved.
Iranian media confirmed that part of the Fordo plant as well as the Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites were attacked.
Trump spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the attacks, while the United States also gave key ally Israel a "heads up" before the strikes, a senior White House official told AFP.
Netanyahu congratulated Trump on the strikes, saying that "America has been truly unsurpassed." Stop no
Diplomacy unsuccessful
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Trump on his "bold decision".
"Congratulations, President Trump. Your bold decision to target Iran's nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history... History will record that President Trump acted to deny the world's most dangerous regime the world's most dangerous weapons," Netanyahu said.
The strikes came as Israel and Iran have been engaged in more than a week of aerial combat that has resulted in deaths and injuries in both countries.
Israel launched the attacks on Iran saying it wanted to remove any chance of Tehran developing nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.
Diplomatic efforts by Western nations to stop the hostilities have so far failed.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called Saturday's strikes a "dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge – and a direct threat to international peace and security."
The attacks come despite Russia having repeatedly told Israel and the US that there is no evidence Iran is aiming to get nuclear weapons, Sky News Arabia on Saturday quoted Russian President Vladimir Putin as saying in an interview.
“Russia, as well as the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), has never had any evidence that Iran is preparing to obtain nuclear weapons, as we have repeatedly put the Israeli leadership on notice,” Sky News Arabia quoted Putin as saying.
Furthermore, Trump contested intelligence assessments relayed earlier this year by his spy chief that Tehran was not building a nuclear weapon when he spoke with reporters at an airport in Morristown, New Jersey.
In March, Gabbard testified to Congress that the US intelligence community continued to believe that Tehran was not building a nuclear weapon. "The (intelligence community) continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon," she said.
However on June 20, Gabbard retracted her statement and said in a post on the social media platform X that: "America has intelligence that Iran is at the point that it can produce a nuclear weapon within weeks to months, if they decide to finalize the assembly. President Trump has been clear that can't happen, and I agree."
The dishonest media is intentionally taking my testimony out of context and spreading fake news as a way to manufacture division. America has intelligence that Iran is at the point that it can produce a nuclear weapon within weeks to months, if they decide to finalize the… pic.twitter.com/mYxjpJY2ud
— DNI Tulsi Gabbard (@DNIGabbard) June 20, 2025World leaders' reactions to US strike
The reaction of world leaders after US forces struck three Iranian nuclear sites on Sunday Iran time ranged from Israel lauding President Donald Trump's decision to the UN. calling for de-escalation and some countries condemning the attacks.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutarres expressed great concern over this development and called for peace by saying "I am gravely alarmed by the use of force by the United States against Iran today. This is a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge – and a direct threat to international peace and security. There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control – with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world. I call on Member States to de-escalate and to uphold their obligations under the UN Charter and other rules of international law. At this perilous hour, it is critical to avoid a spiral of chaos. There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace."
The @SRE_mx makes an urgent call for diplomatic dialogue and peace among the parties involved in the Middle East conflict.
— Relaciones Exteriores (@SRE_mx) June 22, 2025
Under Mexico’s constitutional principles of foreign policy and our nation’s pacifist convictions, we reiterate our call to de-escalate tensions in the…“We acknowledge developments in the last 24 hours, including President Trump’s announcement of US strikes on nuclear facilities in Iran. Ongoing military action in the Middle East is extremely worrying, and it is critical further escalation is avoided. New Zealand strongly supports efforts towards diplomacy. We urge all parties to return to talks. Diplomacy will deliver a more enduring resolution than further military action," said New Zealand Winston Peters.
Read; No evidence Iran seeks nuclear weapons, Russia tells Israel
"We have been clear that Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile program has been a threat to international peace and security. We note the US President’s statement that now is the time for peace. The security situation in the region is highly volatile. We continue to call for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy." says Australia government spokesperson.
"The ministry urgently calls for diplomatic dialogue for peace between the parties involved in the Middle East conflict. In keeping with our constitutional principles of foreign policy and our country's pacifist conviction, we reiterate our call to de-escalate tensions in the region. The restoration of peaceful coexistence among the states of the region is the highest priority." says the Mexico foreign ministry on X.
The @SRE_mx makes an urgent call for diplomatic dialogue and peace among the parties involved in the Middle East conflict.
— Relaciones Exteriores (@SRE_mx) June 22, 2025
Under Mexico’s constitutional principles of foreign policy and our nation’s pacifist convictions, we reiterate our call to de-escalate tensions in the…"Venezuela Condemns US Military Aggression Against Iran and Demands an Immediate Cessation of Hostilities. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela firmly and categorically condemns the bombing carried out by the United States military, at the request of the State of Israel, against nuclear facilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan complexes." stated Venezule foreign minister Yvan Gil on Telegram.
Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel made a statement on X ""We strongly condemn the US bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities, which constitutes a dangerous escalation of the conflict in the Middle East. The aggression seriously violates the UN Charter and international law and plunges humanity into a crisis with irreversible consequences."
Condenamos enérgicamente bombardeos de EEUU contra instalaciones nucleares de Irán que constituyen peligrosa escalada de conflicto en Oriente Medio.
— Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez (@DiazCanelB) June 22, 2025
Agresión viola gravemente Carta ONU y Derecho Internacional y arrastra a la humanidad a una crisis de irreversibles consecuencias.Furthermore, Reuters reported that the political bureau of Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement voiced support for Iran in response to what it described as Israeli-US “aggression,” calling US. actions a “dangerous escalation” and a direct threat to both regional and global peace and security.
Oil price hike fears
Both sides' attacks on energy infrastructure, including by Israel on Iran's South Pars gas field and the risk of a complete shutdown of the OPEC member's oil production, as well as Iran targeting shipping in the Straits of Hormuz, have fueled fears of a spike in oil prices and impacts on economies worldwide.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was due to hold a news conference at the Pentagon early on Sunday.
In recent days, Democratic lawmakers and some Republicans have argued that Trump must receive permission from the US Congress before committing the US military to any combat against Iran.
Republican Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker of Mississippi applauded the invasion but cautioned that the US now faced "very serious choices ahead."
One Republican lawmaker, Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, simply said, "This is not constitutional."
Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said it was "absolutely and clearly grounds for impeachment."
Many in Trump's MAGA movement oppose US entanglement in foreign military attacks.
Trump ally Steve Bannon said on his War Room podcast that the president's address was probably not what a lot of MAGA supporters wanted to hear, and he called on Trump to offer a "deeper explanation" for why US involvement was necessary.
Trump-aligned commentator Charlie Kirk posted on X: "America stands with President Trump."
Israel launched attacks on June 13, saying Iran was on the verge of developing nuclear weapons. Israel is widely assumed to possess nuclear weapons, which it neither confirms nor denies.
At least 430 people have been killed and 3,500 injured in Iran since Israel began its attacks, Iranian state-run Nour News said, citing the health ministry.
In Israel, 24 civilians have been killed and 1,272 people injured, according to local authorities.
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