A prominent figure at the United Nations has outlined the crucial actions required to prevent ‘catastrophic consequences’ following the United States’ missile strikes on three significant nuclear sites in Iran.
President Donald Trump authorized the overnight attack on Iran’s major nuclear facilities, announcing the mission as a ‘success’.
The President addressed the nation after the U.S. targeted the Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan nuclear sites, amidst increasing concerns about Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Trump stated: “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. Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success.”
The full extent of the damage from the U.S. attack, including any injuries or fatalities, remains uncertain at this point.
Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, responded on Twitter shortly after the strike, stating: “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 NPT by attacking Iran’s peaceful nuclear installations.”
The minister further declared that Iran ‘reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people’.
Following the missile strikes, António Guterres, the UN’s Secretary-General, elaborated on necessary steps to prevent further escalation of tensions.
He expressed: “I am gravely alarmed by the use of force by the United States against Iran today. This is a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge – and a direct threat to international peace and security.
“There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control – with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world. I call on Member States to de-escalate and to uphold their obligations under the @UN Charter and other rules of international law.
“At this perilous hour, it is critical to avoid a spiral of chaos. There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace.”
Iran has faced accusations of attempting to develop a nuclear warhead by processing significant amounts of uranium and enriching it.
Israel had previously conducted strikes in Tehran, Iran’s capital, in operations that did not involve U.S. participation until now.
In response, Iran launched its own missiles, contributing to the current situation.