Iran Urges UN to Hold U.S. Accountable for “Criminal” Strike on Nuclear Sites
Iran has requested an emergency UN Security Council meeting and accused the United States of committing a “criminal and illegal” airstrike on its nuclear facilities.
Iran demands accountability for U.S. airstrikes on civilian nuclear infrastructure, warns of dangerous escalation. Photo: @MayadeenEnglish
June 22, 2025 Hour: 6:27 am
Tehran warns of irreversible consequences and denounces complicity through silence.
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Iran has called on the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to hold the United States accountable for what it described as a criminal and illegal airstrike against three of its civilian nuclear facilities. The attacks—carried out early Sunday on sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—prompted Tehran to request an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
In a formal letter addressed to the Council’s president and UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Iran’s UN envoy, Amir Saeid Iravani, urged immediate action. “In view of the grave and far-reaching consequences of the savage and criminal actions of the United States for international peace and security, the Islamic Republic of Iran urgently requests the Security Council to convene an emergency meeting without delay,” the statement read.
The Iranian mission demanded that the Council take firm measures in line with the UN Charter to ensure accountability and prevent impunity for what it called a “blatant and illegal act of aggression.” Tehran also pointed to the June 13 Israeli airstrike on similar nuclear sites as part of a coordinated campaign against its peaceful nuclear program.
Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi strongly condemned the U.S. operation, warning it “will have eternal consequences.” He added: “The United States, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law, and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons by attacking Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities.”
In parallel, Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization chief, Mohammad Eslami, called on IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi to launch an immediate investigation. In a letter sent Sunday, Eslami accused Grossi of “complicit silence” and failure to condemn Washington’s actions. He further denounced the agency’s repeated inaction, warning that it “fosters impunity” for the United States.
Eslami confirmed that a rapid evaluation showed no radiation leaks or public safety risks, and that the affected sites remain operational. However, he described the attacks as “criminal and irresponsible,” and announced that Iran will exhaust all legal and diplomatic options to defend its sovereignty.
“The international community must not allow nuclear facilities protected under international law to become targets of military aggression,” he said. He also urged countries committed to global peace and the rule of law to take immediate steps to uphold the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
In response to Iran’s diplomatic pressure, the IAEA announced an emergency meeting of its Board of Governors scheduled for Monday in Vienna. While the agency said it found no increase in radiation at the targeted sites, it stopped short of naming the United States or issuing a formal condemnation—an omission Tehran has criticized as institutional complicity.
The U.S. strikes, confirmed by both Iranian officials and media, mark a dangerous new front in the region’s escalating tensions. The attacks come amid Israel’s ongoing military campaign and have fueled fears of broader conflict.
In retaliation, Iran launched several ballistic missiles at strategic targets in key Israeli cities as part of “True Promise 3,” a military response that Tehran says reflects its right to defend against acts of aggression authorized by the Trump administration.
Analysts warn that the continued silence of global institutions may embolden future violations and severely damage the credibility of the international non-proliferation regime. Tehran maintains that its nuclear program is strictly peaceful and condemned what it views as the political weaponization of the IAEA and the NPT to justify sanctions and aggression.
The latest developments signal growing pushback against U.S. unilateralism in West Asia and intensify calls for a more balanced and lawful international order.
Author: MK
Source: Al Mayadeen
