TWA ______

June 13, 2025 – In the early hours of Friday morning, the Israeli regime launched an unprovoked and large-scale military assault on the Islamic Republic of Iran. The coordinated operation involved airstrikes, missiles, and drone attacks targeting residential neighborhoods, civilian infrastructure, public institutions, and nuclear facilities operating under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards.

This aggressive act constitutes a blatant and grave violation of international law, particularly the United Nations Charter, International Humanitarian Law, and International Human Rights Law. In one of the deadliest incidents, an Israeli missile struck a residential building, killing at least 60 civilians — including 35 women and children.

The Israeli military has since escalated its operations, targeting critical infrastructure and industrial sites across Iran, further endangering civilian lives and regional stability.

Israel has cited Iran’s nuclear program as justification for the attack. However, the IAEA has repeatedly confirmed that Iran's nuclear activities remain exclusively peaceful and are subject to the most stringent monitoring and inspection mechanisms. The deliberate targeting of safeguarded civilian nuclear facilities is not only unjustified but also constitutes a flagrant breach of international law and nuclear safety norms.

During an emergency session of the UN Security Council, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi reaffirmed that armed attacks on nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes violate the UN Charter, the IAEA Statute, and fundamental principles of international law. Past IAEA resolutions, such as GC(XXIX)/RES/444 and GC(XXXIV)/RES/533, highlight the severe risks such attacks pose to nuclear security and regional peace.

This latest act of aggression reflects a consistent and well-documented pattern by the Israeli regime, which has a history of targeting sovereign states, civilian populations, and protected sites with impunity. These actions are part of a broader policy of militarized coercion that undermines the rules-based international order.

The context is significant: Israel is currently facing proceedings before the International Court of Justice over alleged acts of genocide in Gaza. Its leadership, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has been accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the deliberate targeting of civilians, the use of starvation as a weapon of war, and collective punishment.

In response to this unlawful and unprovoked aggression, Iran exercised its inherent right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter. Iran's military response was precise, proportionate, and directed exclusively at legitimate military targets involved in the Israeli assault — including command centers, military bases, and operational infrastructure. Iran emphasized strict adherence to international humanitarian law, taking all possible measures to avoid civilian casualties.

The failure of the United Nations Security Council to take decisive action has raised serious concerns. In contrast to its prompt condemnation of Israel’s 1981 attack on Iraq’s Osirak nuclear reactor through Resolution 487, the Council now stands paralyzed by political gridlock and the shielding of Israel by a few powerful member states.

The Islamic Republic of Iran calls on the international community to condemn this act of aggression and to uphold the principles of the UN Charter and international law. Sovereignty is not negotiable. Peaceful nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards must not be targeted. Military force cannot replace diplomacy.

The path to peace lies in accountability, justice, and the collective will to enforce international law. The world cannot afford to allow impunity to become precedent.