WANA (May 22) – Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, has sent a letter to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the President of the UN Security Council, and the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), emphasizing the urgent need to take special measures to protect nuclear facilities and materials.

 

In this letter, the Iranian Foreign Minister warned of the consequences of any adventurism by the Israeli regime and underlined the legal responsibility of the U.S. government in such actions. He stated:

 

“In accordance with international law, the Islamic Republic of Iran will take all necessary measures to protect and defend its citizens, interests, and facilities against any terrorist or sabotage action. Iran strongly warns, as in the past, against any reckless action by the Zionist Israeli regime and will decisively respond to any threats or illegal acts by this regime.”

 

The full text of the letter reads as follows:

 

In the Name of God

 

Mr. António Guterres

Secretary-General of the United Nations

Mr. Evangelos C. Sekeris

President of the UN Security Council

Mr. Rafael Mariano Grossi

Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

 

Greetings,

 

I wish to draw your attention to the repeated threats made by the Zionist Israeli regime to attack the peaceful nuclear facilities of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Most recently, according to a CNN report dated May 20, 2025, quoting senior U.S. officials, it is claimed that based on new intelligence, the Israeli regime is preparing to strike the nuclear facilities, infrastructure, and sites of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

 

1. Iran’s peaceful nuclear program has always been under the extensive supervision of the IAEA, and none of the Agency’s reports have indicated any deviation from peaceful purposes. The peaceful nature of Iran’s program has been thoroughly verified.

 

2. According to the resolutions of the IAEA General Conference, any threat or attack on nuclear facilities constitutes a violation of international law, the UN Charter, and the IAEA Statute. Notably:

 

Resolution GC(19)/RES/444 states that “any armed attack or threat of attack against nuclear facilities dedicated to peaceful purposes constitutes a violation of the principles of the United Nations Charter, international law, and the Statute of the Agency.”

 

Resolution GC(31)/RES/475 affirms that “an armed attack on nuclear facilities could result in radioactive release with grave consequences both within and beyond the borders of the targeted state.”

 

Resolution GC(34)/RES/533 recognizes that “an armed attack or threat of attack on safeguarded nuclear facilities, whether operational or under construction, would require immediate action by the UN Security Council in accordance with the UN Charter.”

 

 

3. The Final Document of the 2000 NPT Review Conference also emphasized that “an attack or threat of attack on peaceful nuclear facilities poses serious political, economic, and environmental risks and raises grave concerns regarding the application of international law on the use of force, thereby justifying appropriate remedial measures under the UN Charter.”

 

4. Such attacks have been strongly condemned by the UN Security Council in the past. In Resolution 487 (1981), the Council unequivocally condemned Israel’s attack on Iraq’s nuclear research center, labeling it a clear violation of the UN Charter and international norms. The Council also warned against future such threats and called on Israel, as a non-party to the NPT, to place all its nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards.

 

5. It must be underscored that Israel, with its non-peaceful nuclear program, is the principal and most serious threat to regional and global peace and security. Strong international pressure must be exerted on this regime to dismantle its nuclear weapons program and join the NPT as a non-nuclear-weapon state.

 

6. For decades, Israel has systematically and deliberately violated the spirit and letter of the UN Charter—particularly Article 2(4), which prohibits the threat or use of force—through its threats and aggressions against regional countries. Its threats to attack Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities, infrastructure, and sites represent a serious danger to regional and international peace and security. The UN Security Council must therefore act immediately and effectively. The IAEA must also address this issue without delay, and its Director General should clearly condemn such threats in order to protect the Agency’s credibility and impartiality.

 

7. In accordance with international law, the Islamic Republic of Iran will take all necessary measures to protect and defend its citizens, interests, and facilities against any terrorist or sabotage acts. Iran again warns strongly against any reckless acts by the Zionist Israeli regime and will respond decisively to any threats or violations by it. Moreover, Iran holds that if any attack is carried out against its nuclear facilities, the U.S. government will also bear legal responsibility. In light of continued threats, the Islamic Republic of Iran will be compelled to implement special measures to protect its nuclear facilities and materials, the details of which will be communicated to the IAEA in due course.

 

It would be appreciated if this letter could be circulated as an official document of the Security Council and the IAEA.

 

Seyed Abbas Araghchi

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Islamic Republic of Iran