Tehran has vowed to defend its territory and people “by all means necessary” after the United States carried out surprise airstrikes on three of Iran’s key nuclear facilities in a dramatic escalation of tensions in the Middle East.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the strikes — which hit Natanz, Isfahan, and the heavily fortified Fordow site — as a “brutal act of military aggression” and an “unforgivable crime” that violates international law and the UN Charter.
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/GhSjSTtzx2
— Foreign Ministry, Islamic Republic of Iran 🇮🇷 (@IRIMFA_EN) June 22, 2025
In an urgent statement, Iran called on the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to step in immediately and hold Washington accountable for what it called a “flagrant breach” of Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear development.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran is committed to defending its sovereignty and security with full force,” the ministry said, warning that ignoring this act could push the world deeper into chaos.
Tensions had already been at boiling point as Israeli forces pushed into Iranian territory over the past ten days. The overnight US bombardment, personally confirmed by President Donald Trump in a televised address, now marks a dangerous new front in the conflict.
Speaking from the White House, Trump boasted that the “massive precision strikes” had “completely and totally obliterated” Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity, adding a stark threat: if Iran retaliates or refuses peace, “future attacks will be far greater, and a lot easier.”
Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi accused both Washington and Tel Aviv of deliberately sabotaging diplomatic efforts, saying that Iran never abandoned negotiations but was repeatedly undermined.
Meanwhile, the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned that “the world cannot absorb limitless war” and urged all sides to respect humanitarian law and protect civilians.
International observers fear that Iran’s vow to defend itself “with all force” could trigger a wider conflict in the region — with ripple effects for global security and energy supplies.
For now, Tehran has called on the UN Security Council to convene an emergency session and is rallying allies to push back diplomatically against what it sees as an unlawful assault.
As the situation unfolds, the world watches anxiously to see if the strike will force Iran back to the negotiating table — or push it further towards open retaliation.
