Zionist regime’s ‘military, terrorist’ strikes against Iran lethal blow to diplomacy, NPT

Araghchi made the remarks in an address to the 17th summit of the BRICS group of emerging economies in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Sunday.

He said the Zionist regime’s 12-day unprovoked "military, terrorist strikes" have been carried out with the support, collaboration and eventual participation of the United States.

He added that the Zionist regime’s unlawful attack against Iran violated the UN Charter, which martyred and injured more than 6,000 innocent people and damaged infrastructures, residential areas and nuclear facilities in Iran.

“The US/Israeli attacks on our nuclear facilities were in stark violation of NPT and the UNSR resolution 2231 that has endorsed Iran's peaceful nuclear program in 2015 by consensus,” the top Iranian diplomat emphasized.

“The US's subsequent involvement in this aggression by targeting Iran's peaceful nuclear installations has left no doubt as to the full complicity of the American government in Israel's war of aggression against Iran,” he added.

On June 13, Zionist regime launched a blatant and unprovoked act of aggression against Iran, assassinating many high-ranking military commanders and nuclear scientists.

On June 22, the United States officially joined Zionist regime’s war of aggression against Iran by launching attacks on three nuclear facilities in the country in violation of the United Nations Charter and the NPT.

On June 24, the Zionist regime, isolated and abandoned, declared a unilateral halt to its aggression, announced on its behalf by US President Donald Trump.

Araghchi reiterated the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program which has been under the most robust surveillance by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

He said the strikes by the Zionist regime, and subsequently the United States, were no less than an unprecedented breach of international peace.

“No rule of law or logic allows anyone to target the IAEA-monitored peaceful nuclear facilities of another State simply out of speculation that the facilities may sometimes be used for weaponization,” he added.

Araghchi reiterated the Iranian people’s steadfastness to defend the country against such blatant acts of aggression, urging the aggressors to cease their criminal attacks following the heroic resistance of Iran’s Armed Forces.

He emphasized that the Zionist regime's lawless behavior is supported and justified by its backers and apologists.

The foreign minister said, “Israel's act of aggression against Iran came as the result of absolute impunity it is granted by the US and some other European states to commit every atrocity in our region.”

He warned that the common values of peace and justice are at serious stake now, reminding each UN member of its responsibility to “stand up against this grave injustice and condemn Israeli aggression firmly.”

“The truth and facts must not be allowed to be twisted upside-down by Israel and its backers. Israel's aggression on Iran cannot and must not be justified by any legal or moral standards. Any justification for this unjust and criminal war would be tantamount to complicity,” Araghchi pointed out.

He stressed the importance of holding Israel and the United States accountable for their violations of international law, including human rights and humanitarian law.

The top Iranian diplomat said the consequences of the US-Israeli war of aggression would not be limited to any single country but the whole region, and beyond, will suffer.

The acts of aggression have undermined the whole UN-based international law system in favor of lawlessness and malicious unilateralism, he added.

He urged the world, every state, every UN mechanism and every multilateral arrangement and groupings to act now to end impunity and to hold the criminals accountable for their unending atrocities and grave violations of international law in our region.

He thanked fellow BRICS members who appreciated the high responsibility they shoulder concerning international peace and security by condemning and deploring the flagrant acts of aggression against Iran by two nuclear-armed actors since June 13.

“As a recognized voice of the Global South, BRICS shall fulfill its role as a staunch defender of international law and multilateralism, in support of the United Nations' fundamental principles of sovereign equality of all nations, non-use of force and peaceful settlement of disputes,” Araghchi said.

The 17th two-day BRICS Summit kicked off in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday under the theme of "Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance".

The BRICS group of fast-developing economies initially consisted of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

In 2024, it was expanded to include Iran, Egypt, the UAE and Ethiopia as new members.

The group promotes a multipolar world order and is often seen as an alternative to Western economic and political hegemony. It comprises almost 46 percent of the global population, 36 percent of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP) and 25 percent of the global trade measured in terms of exports.