UPDATE 3 – Iran condemns US attack on nuclear sites, calls on UN Security Council to act

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS

By Ikram Kouachi and Betul Yilmaz

ANKARA / ISTANBUL (AA) – Iran condemned on Sunday US airstrikes on three nuclear sites and called on the UN Security Council to act.

In a statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said Iran reserves the right to resist “US aggression and the crimes committed by this rogue regime” in defense of its national security following the US attacks.

It called on the UN member states to condemn the US attack and urged restraint to avoid further escalation, warning that the situation could have far-reaching impacts on regional and global stability.

Iran’s delegation to the United Nations also formally called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Sunday to discuss the US strikes.

In a letter submitted to the Council carried by Fars News Agency, the Iranian delegation urged “immediate action and the adoption of necessary measures under the framework of the United Nations Charter.”

The letter emphasized the need to hold “the perpetrators of these heinous crimes fully accountable” to ensure that such acts do not go unpunished.

- Gave violation

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, for his part, sharply criticized the US for undermining diplomatic efforts, saying that while Iran was engaged in negotiations with the US last week, “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,” he added on X.

Earlier, Araghchi accused the US, a permanent member of the UN Security Council of committing a “grave violation of the UN Charter, international law and the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) by attacking Iran's peaceful nuclear installations.”

“The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences. Each and every member of the UN must be alarmed over this extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behavior.”

Highlighting Iran’s right to respond, Araghchi emphasized, “In accordance with the UN Charter and its provisions allowing a legitimate response in self-defense, Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people.”

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities.
“The attack proved that the US is the main driving force behind the Israeli aggression against Iran,” Pezeshkian said.

“The powerful attacks launched by the Iranian armed forces this morning against the Israeli entity are in fact a response to the aggressive policies of the US,” he added.

US President Donald Trump said early Sunday that his forces bombed three Iranian nuclear sites in Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan.

The attacks came as the latest escalation in a US-backed Israeli military assault on Iran since June 13, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory attacks on Israel.

Israeli authorities said at least 25 people have been killed and hundreds injured since then in Iranian missile attacks.

Meanwhile, in Iran, 430 people have been killed and more than 3,500 wounded in the Israeli assault, according to the Iranian Health Ministry.