In response to the Israeli regime’s unlawful and unprovoked aggression, the Islamic Republic of Iran lawfully exercised its inherent right to self-defense as enshrined in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. This fundamental right permits a state to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity when subjected to an armed attack. Iran’s response adhered strictly to the principles and parameters
set forth by international law, ensuring that its actions were measured, necessary, and
appropriate under the circumstances.

Specifically, Iran’s response was carefully calibrated to be proportionate to the threat and the military attack by Israel. The response targeted exclusively at legitimate military objectives, including command and control centers, strategic military installations, and operational infrastructure directly linked to the unlawful attack. At all times, Iran maintained strict compliance with the rules of international humanitarian law, prioritizing the minimization of collateral damage.

The United Nations Security Council’s failure to respond decisively to this act of aggression represents a dereliction of its fundamental responsibility to maintain international peace and security. In past instances, the Council has acted swiftly and unanimously. Following Israel’s 1981 attack on Iraq’s Osirak nuclear reactor, the Council adopted Resolution 487, condemning the strike and affirming the sanctity of peaceful nuclear facilities. That precedent remains unambiguous. The law remains clear. Yet today, the Council stands paralyzed—its deliberations stifled by political pressure and the protective shield extended by a small group of powerful states. This inaction threatens to erode the very foundations of the multilateral system.

Iran calls upon the international community to condemn this act of aggression and reaffirms its commitment to the UN Charter and the fundamental principles of international law. Sovereignty is not negotiable. Nuclear installations under IAEA safeguards should not be targeted. Armed force must not be allowed to replace diplomacy. The Israeli regime cannot be permitted to rewrite the rules of international conduct through repeated violations and calculated provocation. The path to peace begins with accountability, and the international system must summon the will to uphold it.