Iran Condemns US-Israeli Strikes as Criminal Violations of Int’l Law

Iran’s top diplomat made the remarks on the sidelines of the 17th BRICS Summit in Brazil during a meeting with UN Secretary General António Guterres.

Araqchi denounced the strikes targeting residential areas, which killed civilians, including university professors and other respected figures.

He said the targeted assassination of military commanders and the bombing of peaceful nuclear sites amounted to acts of state terrorism.

“It is deeply concerning that two nuclear-armed states would target a non-nuclear weapon state that is a committed party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty,” he stated.

He added that Iran’s nuclear activities remain under full safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

“These reckless and aggressive actions not only cause severe human suffering but also inflict irreparable ecological damage,” Araqchi warned.

He strongly criticized the UN Security Council for its silence in the face of undeniable acts of aggression.

Araqchi said the coordinated US-Israeli attacks dealt a deadly blow to global non-proliferation efforts and demanded compensation for damages as well as prosecution of the perpetrators.

He further emphasized that sanctions and geopolitical provocations undermine climate cooperation and block progress on collective goals.

“The harsh sanctions and unilateral coercive measures imposed by some developed nations against developing countries, including the Islamic Republic of Iran, under political pretexts, are a major obstacle,” he declared.

“Such actions contradict the international community's goals of collaborating to combat the destructive effects of climate change and achieving sustainable development objectives, particularly the eradication of poverty and hunger," he said.

The foreign minister stressed that Iran, with its vast resources and strategic position, insists on equitable and inclusive decision-making based on common but differentiated responsibilities.

He urged BRICS to stand as the united voice of the Global South in defending climate and development interests.

For his part, Guterres voiced deep concern over the attacks and their serious risks to international peace and security.

He reiterated his readiness to help de-escalate tensions after the assaults against Iran.

On June 13, Israel launched an unprovoked act of aggression, assassinating senior Iranian military figures, nuclear scientists, and civilians.

Days later, the United States joined the offensive by bombing three Iranian nuclear sites in a flagrant breach of the UN Charter and the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

In response, Iranian Armed Forces struck strategic targets across the occupied territories and the al-Udeid air base in Qatar, the largest US military installation in West Asia.

By June 24, Iran’s retaliatory operations forced a halt to the illegal military campaign./tasnim