Iran warns US, Israel over adventurist acts against its nuclear program
(last modified Wed, 10 May 2023 11:10:27 GMT )
May 10, 2023 11:10 UTC
  •  Iran warns US, Israel over adventurist acts against its nuclear program

Iran’s permanent ambassador to the UN has reiterated Tehran’s right to respond to any act of aggression by the Israeli regime against the country’s nuclear program, warning that Iran will hold the US to account for explicitly supporting such terrorist acts.

Amir Saeid Iravani made the remarks in a Tuesday letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the head of the Security Council, days after US national security advisor Jake Sullivan said Washington would do whatever was necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring a “nuclear weapon,… including by recognizing Israel’s freedom of action.”

“Without a doubt, this irresponsible, provocative, and belligerent statement violates international law and the United Nations Charter, particularly Article 2(4), as it threatens to use force against the peaceful nuclear facilities of a Member State of the United Nations,” Iravani said.

“Such a statement not only implies the United States’ potential complicity in any future acts of terrorism or aggression carried out by the Israeli regime against Iran, including against its peaceful nuclear facilities, but it also serves as an admission of responsibility by the US for its role in assisting, facilitating, and supporting Israel’s terrorist and sabotage operations against Iranian officials, scientists, civilians, and peaceful nuclear facilities, thus requiring the United States to bear the consequences of such internationally wrongful acts.”

The envoy also noted that the assertion that the US will not allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons is “a distortion of reality and another cynical attempt” to advance the American political agenda, urging Washington to stop “propagating false allegations and misinformation” about Tehran’s nuclear activities.

“Iran reiterates the peaceful nature of [its] nuclear program and adherence to international obligations. The Islamic Republic has always maintained that its pursuit of nuclear technology is exclusively for peaceful purposes, and it has never sought, nor will it ever seek, to develop nuclear weapons."

"This is a firm and unwavering decision of the government [and] … any claim to the contrary is completely unfounded and invalid,” he added.

Iravani further stressed Iran’s right to defend itself in the case of any attacks against its nuclear facilities.

“Iran warns against any possible miscalculation or adventurist acts against its peaceful nuclear program and reserves its inherent and legitimate right under international law to take all necessary measures to protect and defend its citizens, interests, installations, and sovereignty against any aggression, including any terrorist, military, or sabotage acts,” he said.

Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani said on Friday that the United States would be blamed for all of the Tel Aviv regime’s acts of terror targeting the Iranian nuclear facilities and the people working for the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kan’ani also responded to Sullivan’s remarks, saying they were not compatible with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)’s 15 reports which confirmed Iran’s adherence to its nuclear commitments.

SS