Iran issued a stern warning to the United States early Sunday following coordinated airstrikes on three of its nuclear facilities, declaring that the attacks would bring “everlasting consequences” and vowing to explore “all options” in crafting a response.
Describing the incident as a severe provocation, Iranian Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi took to social media platform X to condemn the strikes.
“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,” Araghchi wrote.
He emphasized that any Iranian countermeasure would fall under the nation’s right to defend itself. “Tehran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people,” Araghchi added, stating such action would be a legitimate exercise of “self-defense.”
The warning came roughly two hours after U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that American forces had bombed the Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan nuclear sites, declaring them “completely and totally obliterated.”
Trump cautioned that unless Iran agreed to what he described as a satisfactory peace agreement, further military actions could follow.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres voiced deep concern over the escalation, stating, “This is a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge – and a direct threat to international peace and security.” He said he was “gravely alarmed” by Washington’s decision to resort to force.
Iran’s foreign minister further accused the U.S. of violating international agreements, including the UN Charter and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
“The U.S. has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law and the [Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty] by attacking Iran’s peaceful nuclear installations,” he charged.
President Trump defended the operation, linking it to broader regional tensions and Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
“Our objective was the destruction of Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world’s number one state sponsor of terror,” Trump said in a statement delivered at the White House. He described the Saturday strikes as a “spectacular military success.”
The airstrikes followed more than a week of Israeli assaults on Iran, as both the U.S. and Israel expressed alarm over Tehran’s uranium enrichment levels, which they argue exceed the needs of a civilian nuclear program and move dangerously close to weapons-grade capabilities.