ISTANBUL, June 23 (Alliance News): Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has strongly condemned the United States for undermining ongoing diplomatic efforts by launching airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, warning that the attacks represent a serious threat to global norms and the credibility of international law.
Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Istanbul, Araghchi said, “We were in the middle of negotiations. It was not Iran that walked away. The US abandoned diplomacy with missiles, not words.”
The remarks came after the US bombed three major Iranian nuclear sites — Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan — using B-2 Spirit stealth bombers. US President Donald Trump hailed the action as “a spectacular military success.”
Araghchi labelled the airstrikes as a “clear violation” of international law and the United Nations Charter, stating that Washington had “crossed a very big red line by attacking Iran’s safeguarded nuclear facilities.” He urged the UN Security Council to take a firm stance by formally denouncing the US strikes and reaffirming the principles of state sovereignty and peaceful dispute resolution.
“This is not just about Iran. It’s about the credibility of international law itself,” he said. “You cannot bomb a negotiating partner and ask them to talk peace the next day.”
The Iranian foreign minister also announced his upcoming visit to Moscow for high-level talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding that the recent US attacks and the regional crisis will top the agenda.
Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth clarified that Washington “is not seeking regime change in Tehran,” stressing that the operation was narrowly focused on disabling Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
Speaking at a Pentagon press briefing, Hegseth said, “We devastated the Iranian nuclear programme. This mission did not target Iranian troops or the Iranian people. It was designed to neutralize a growing threat.”
Hegseth insisted that the US remains open to diplomatic solutions, urging Iran to “find an off-ramp to the conflict.” He added that President Trump “seeks peace, and Iran should take that path.”
However, the US airstrikes follow Israel’s aggressive bombing campaign against Iran last week, which has significantly escalated tensions in the region. Tehran has vowed to retaliate if the US continues to support Israeli military actions.
