Iran Condemns US Strikes on Nuclear Sites, Vows "Everlasting Consequences" and Right to Self-Defense

June 22, 2025, 12:00pm IST – Iran has vehemently condemned the unprecedented direct military strikes by the United States on its three key nuclear facilities – Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan – early this Sunday morning (local time). While acknowledging the attacks, Iranian officials have vowed "everlasting consequences" and asserted their right to retaliate under international law.

Key Points of Iran's Immediate Response:

• "Grave Violation" of International Law: Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi swiftly denounced the U.S. action, calling it a "grave violation" of the United Nations Charter, international law, and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). In a post on social media, Araghchi stated, "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."
• Right to Self-Defense: Araghchi explicitly warned that "in accordance with the UN Charter and its provisions allowing a legitimate response in self-defense, Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interests, and people." This statement signals a clear intention for retaliation.
• Claim of No Irreversible Damage/Contamination: Despite the confirmed strikes, Iranian Atomic Energy Organization officials have sought to downplay the severity of the damage. Morteza Heidari, a spokesman for crisis headquarters in Qom province, claimed that the Fordow site "has not suffered any irreversible damage." The National Centre for the Nuclear Safety System also stated that "no signs of contamination" have been recorded at the targeted sites, assuring residents around the facilities that there is "no danger."
• Evacuation Claims: Iranian officials maintained that the nuclear sites had been "evacuated" in advance of the strikes, implying some level of foresight or preparation for such an eventuality.
• Resilience and Continuation of Program: Iran's Atomic Energy Organization confirmed the attacks but asserted that the strikes would "not stop" the development of its "national industry," a clear reference to its nuclear program. They called on the international community to condemn the U.S. actions.
• Warning to the U.S.: Iran had previously warned that any direct American intervention in the conflict would be "very, very dangerous for everyone" and "a recipe for an all-out war in the region." The Houthi group in Yemen, an Iran-backed proxy, has already threatened to target U.S. ships in the Red Sea if the U.S. directly joined the Israeli assault.
• Call for UN Security Council Meeting: Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, has formally called for an emergency Security Council meeting to discuss what he described as the U.S.'s "heinous attacks and illegal use of force" against Iran, demanding the UN take "all necessary measures" to hold the U.S. accountable.
• Execution of Spy: In a separate, yet related development, the Iranian judicial news outlet Mizan Online reported that Majid Mosayebi, a man convicted of spying for Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, was executed this morning after his sentence was confirmed by the Supreme Court. This could be interpreted as a defiant message amidst the escalating tensions.

The direct U.S. involvement marks a critical turning point, and Iran's immediate, strong rhetoric indicates that further retaliatory actions are highly likely, escalating the conflict to an unprecedented and dangerous level.