Tehran – Tehran has strongly condemned the recent U.S. airstrikes targeting its nuclear facilities, branding the operation a flagrant violation of international law and an attack on national sovereignty. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the American campaign as a “reckless violation of the UN Charter,” asserting that Iran “reserves all options” to defend itself. He warned that the strikes may have “everlasting consequences,” and called on United Nations member states to acknowledge the seriousness of the situation.
In a statement meant to calm public fears, Iranian authorities claimed that critical nuclear sites had been safely evacuated prior to the bombardment and confirmed that no radiation leaks had been detected by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran. Despite these reassurances, Tehran responded swiftly with retaliatory missile strikes against targets in northern and central Israel. The counter-strikes caused civilian injuries and infrastructure damage, with Iranian officials warning that these were only preliminary responses. Military leaders indicated a readiness to escalate if provoked further.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has rejected all suggestions of surrender, dismissing U.S. demands as “absurd rhetoric” and vowing serious repercussions for continued acts of aggression. Iran’s military establishment has labelled the strikes a war crime, cautioning that sustained Western military involvement—particularly from the United States—risks triggering a wider regional conflict.
Humanitarian concerns have grown in the wake of the attacks, even as the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed no radiation breaches. Observers fear that continued military operations could destabilize the broader region and lead to long-term environmental fallout. The UN Secretary-General, along with governments from Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico, has issued urgent calls for restraint and renewed diplomatic dialogue.
Iran’s response has also included a legal front. Citing Article 51 of the UN Charter, Tehran has reaffirmed its right to self-defence and has notified the United Nations of its intent to pursue legal action against the United States in international courts. Reports from within Iran suggest that Supreme Leader Khamenei is currently sheltered in a high-security underground bunker with minimal communication access amid fears of a targeted assassination.
Iran’s regional allies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi movement in Yemen, have expressed conditional support for Tehran and warned that further Western strikes could compel them to join the conflict. The potential for a broader regional escalation continues to mount as Iran strengthens its missile defence systems and positions itself to strike Western military assets across the Middle East. Iranian officials have also issued threats to mine key maritime shipping lanes, including the critical Strait of Hormuz, intensifying global concerns over energy security.
Diplomatic efforts remain stalled. Negotiations hosted in Geneva have ground to a halt, with Iranian representatives refusing to engage until airstrikes cease. European diplomats have urged for calm and compromise, but the prospects for a peaceful resolution appear increasingly slim as Tehran adopts a more defiant stance.
Iran’s multi-pronged response—a combination of legal resistance, calculated military retaliation, and international appeals—seeks to project resilience while deterring further aggression. As alliances deepen and regional militias mobilize, the potential for a broader and more destructive confrontation looms ever larger. The coming days will be critical in determining whether diplomacy can reclaim ground or whether the Middle East will descend further into conflict.