Iran has warned of “everlasting consequences” following U.S. military strikes that targeted three of its nuclear sites early Saturday, www.irangov.irescalating tensions across the Middle East and drawing international alarm.
In a statement posted early Sunday on X (formerly Twitter), Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi condemned the strikes as “outrageous” and “criminal,” declaring that Tehran is considering “all options” in response.
“The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences,” Araghchi wrote. “Every member of the United Nations should be alarmed by this dangerous, lawless, and criminal behavior.”
The Iranian diplomat said any response by Tehran would be in “self-defense,” adding that the Islamic Republic reserves the right to defend its sovereignty, interests, and people under international law.
The warning followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement Saturday night that American forces had launched coordinated strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. Trump described the action as a “spectacular military success,” claiming the sites were “completely and totally obliterated.”
“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 from the White House East Room.
The decision to strike came after more than a week of Israeli assaults on Iran, amid claims that Tehran’s nuclear program had exceeded civilian thresholds. Both Washington and Tel Aviv have long accused Iran of covertly pursuing a nuclear weapon under the guise of peaceful energy development.
The United Nations reacted swiftly to the strikes. Secretary-General António Guterres said he was “gravely alarmed” by the escalation, calling it a “dangerous provocation” in an already volatile region and a “direct threat to international peace and security.”
Iran, a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), maintains that its nuclear program is strictly for peaceful purposes. Araghchi accused the U.S. of committing “a grave violation” of the UN Charter, international law, and the NPT.
As diplomatic channels brace for the fallout, global leaders and analysts are watching closely to see how Iran will respond—and whether the region inches closer to wider conflict.
