Iran vows retaliation, condemns U.S. strikes as violation of international law

Iran’s top diplomat, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, condemned the U.S. airstrikes on the country’s nuclear facilities, calling them a “grave violation” of the United Nations Charter, international law, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

“The United States, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has committed a grave violation by attacking Iran’s peaceful nuclear installations,” Araghchi posted on X.

He warned that the strikes would have “everlasting consequences,” describing them as “extremely dangerous, lawless, and criminal behavior” that should concern every UN member. He asserted that Iran reserves all options to respond in self-defense under international law.

In a development likely to deepen the crisis, Iran executed Majid Moseybi, who was convicted of spying for Israel and attempting to pass sensitive information to the Mossad intelligence agency. The judiciary-affiliated Mizan news agency reported that Moseybi was hanged on Sunday after his death sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court.

Authorities said Moseybi tried to provide classified details about sensitive locations and individuals of interest to Israeli operatives. No further details about his arrest were disclosed.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Sunday that radiation levels at and around the three bombed Iranian nuclear sites — Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan — remained within normal limits.

“No increase in off-site radiation levels has been reported as of this time,” the agency said on X, adding it would provide further assessments as more information becomes available.

In the meantime, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that Iran launched missiles toward Israel in retaliation, prompting nationwide emergency measures. The IDF urged citizens to follow Home Front Command instructions and seek shelter, warning that while Israeli air defenses are active, they are not impenetrable.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog while hailing the U.S. attack as a vital move against what he called the “axis of terror and evil,” in a message on X, he thanked President Trump saying, “This brave step serves the security and safety of the entire free world. I hope it leads to a better future for the Middle East and advances the release of our hostages held in Gaza.”

Meanwhile, President Trump, who came to office promising to avoid entanglements in foreign wars, now finds himself at the center of a growing political storm.

House Speaker Mike Johnson supported the airstrikes, calling them necessary to stop “the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism” from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch stated: “This war is Israel’s war, not our war — but Israel is one of our strongest allies and is disarming Iran for the good of the world.”

In contrast, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized the president saying, “Trump misled the country, failed to seek congressional authorization, and risks dragging the U.S. into a disastrous Middle East war.”
Some members of Trump’s own base, including prominent “MAGA” voices, have also questioned the wisdom of the strikes.

With missiles flying, political rifts widening, and diplomatic norms strained, the U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear sites has sparked a complex and dangerous moment in global affairs. As both Tehran and Washington brace for the next phase, the world watches with growing alarm over the potential for broader war.