Iran slams US-Israel attacks as `illegal acts’
Staff Reporter :
The ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel has entered its 11th day with no signs of de-escalation, raising serious concerns of a broader regional crisis. Despite widespread international appeals for restraint, hostilities continue to intensify following joint US-Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and strong warnings of retaliation from Tehran.
Iran has condemned the strikes as “hostile acts” and violations of international law. Iranian Armed Forces spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari warned that such actions have expanded the scope of what Iran considers “legitimate targets,” cautioning of “serious, unpredictable consequences.”
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said Tehran was not ruling out retaliatory attacks on US military bases in the Middle East. He described the strikes on sites including Fordo as a “terrible mistake” and declared that Iran would decide “when, how, and to what extent” it responds.
On the Israeli side, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the country was “very, very close” to achieving its strategic objectives, which include dismantling Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure.
Israeli airstrikes have targeted several high-profile sites in Tehran, such as the Evin Prison and command centres linked to the Revolutionary Guard and Basij militia. Defence Minister Israel Katz described the strikes as being carried out with “unprecedented force.”
In a further blow to diplomatic efforts, Russia has sharply criticised the US strikes. President Vladimir Putin labelled them “unprovoked” and “unjustified” during a meeting in Moscow with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
While reaffirming Russia’s strategic ties with Iran, Putin stopped short of offering military assistance, though Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow was open to mediation efforts.
In contrast, US President Donald Trump defended the legality of the strikes and urged the Iranian people to reconsider their leadership if it rejects diplomatic solutions. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed his remarks, accusing the Iranian government of long-standing domestic repression.
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, urged all sides to halt hostilities and permit inspectors access to Iranian nuclear sites.
He highlighted the need to verify Iran’s uranium stockpile, including over 400 kilograms enriched to 60 percent. “Peace and security are prerequisites for returning to diplomacy,” he stated during an emergency session in Vienna.
Strategic analysts have warned that Iran may retaliate by closing the Strait of Hormuz – a vital maritime corridor through which nearly 20 percent of global oil is transported.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called such a move “extremely dangerous” with serious implications for the global economy. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged China to apply diplomatic pressure on Iran, warning that closing the strait would be “economic suicide.”
According to the US Energy Information Administration, 84 percent of oil passing through the Strait is bound for Asian markets, including China, India, South Korea, and Japan.
Nearly 14.2 million barrels of crude oil and 5.9 million barrels of petroleum products transit the strait daily.
European leaders have continued to push for a diplomatic resolution.
France, Germany, and the UK jointly appealed to Iran to avoid further escalation. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for urgent negotiations with the US and Israel, while French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stressed that only diplomacy could place long-term limits on Iran’s nuclear ambitions. President Emmanuel Macron warned of “uncontrolled escalation” and reiterated that airstrikes alone cannot achieve nonproliferation goals.
North Korea also issued a rare statement condemning the US strikes as a violation of the UN Charter, with Pyongyang’s foreign ministry labelling them “reckless aggression” and blaming American support for Israel as the root of the crisis.
In the United States, President Trump’s decision to launch strikes without congressional approval has drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers.
Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin accused the administration of bypassing constitutional checks and placing the nation on the verge of a wider conflict.
“The President’s unilateral action risks dragging the United States into a broader Middle East war,” Durbin stated.
In light of the ongoing hostilities, the US State Department has issued a global caution alert, advising American citizens to remain vigilant.
With tensions continuing to rise, global powers remain sharply divided between those pursuing military objectives and those advocating urgent diplomatic engagement. Iran’s threats to retaliate, particularly against US bases and vital oil routes, risk triggering far-reaching instability in the region.