Rio de Janeiro, July 7, 2025 – The Europe Today: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi strongly condemned recent Israeli and U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, labeling the attacks as a “lethal blow” to diplomacy, the rule of law, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), during his address at the 17th BRICS Summit held in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday.
Speaking on behalf of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Araqchi stressed that Iran’s nuclear program remains entirely peaceful and under the strictest oversight of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). However, he stated that on June 13, Israel launched a wave of “unprovoked military and terrorist strikes” against Iran, followed by direct involvement from the United States.
“These unlawful attacks killed and injured over 6,000 civilians, including women and children, and inflicted serious damage to residential areas, infrastructure, and peaceful nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards,” Araqchi said, adding that the strikes took place just days before scheduled diplomatic talks between Tehran and Washington.
He argued that the assault marked a flagrant violation of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter and breached both the NPT and UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed Iran’s nuclear deal in 2015.
Araqchi further accused Israel of acting with impunity due to unwavering support from its Western allies, particularly the United States. “The aggression was not only a crime against Iran but an attack on the entire framework of international law,” he emphasized.
The Iranian diplomat warned that such actions, particularly from nuclear-armed states, jeopardize global peace and the credibility of multilateral institutions. “This is a historic moment for human civilization when a civilized nation has come under an unjust war of aggression by an actor that disregards all ethical and legal norms,” he stated.
He urged all UN member states and the BRICS bloc to hold Israel and the United States accountable, warning that the consequences of the conflict extend beyond Iran, potentially destabilizing the region and undermining the international legal order.
Araqchi concluded by reaffirming Iran’s right to self-defense and pledged to pursue justice, accountability, and compensation for what he termed “war crimes and crimes against humanity” committed during the 12-day offensive.
The BRICS Summit, hosted by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, gathered top leaders and ministers from emerging economies to discuss global governance, peace, and security.
