On June 21, the U.S. attacked Iran’s key nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Iran confirmed damage but said nuclear materials were moved beforehand with no leaks detected. The UN called this a “dangerous escalation”, urging all sides to de-escalate and seek diplomacy. In retaliation, Iran’s IRGC fired over 40 missiles at Israel, injuring many. Israel struck back with air raids across Iran, including Tehran and Isfahan. Over 400 Iranians and 25 Israelis have died so far. Iran’s parliament supports closing the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil route, risking global energy disruption. Militias allied with Iran have threatened attacks if the U.S. intervenes further, raising fears of wider regional conflict. Will diplomacy prevail or spiral into full-scale war?
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00:00And I now give the floor to Ms. Miroslav Jenče.
00:04Madam President, on the evening of 21 June, the President of the United States announced
00:11that the U.S. military conducted strikes against the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear facilities in Iran.
00:21Shortly thereafter, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran confirmed that the attacks around the nuclear sites
00:28had taken place.
00:31Iranian state media indicated the three sites had been evacuated
00:36and the highly enriched uranium stockpile transferred in advance.
00:42Iran has said there were no immediate signs of radioactive contamination
00:47at the three locations following the strikes.
00:51The Crisis Management Bureau of Qom, where Fordow is located, stated
00:57that the perimeter of the Fordow nuclear site had been targeted.
01:02Iranian state media said only two tunnels for entry and exit were destroyed at Fordow.
01:11Preliminary open source satellite imagery shows damage at various points at the facility.
01:17I urge Iran to allow IAEA inspectors' access to the sites to conduct damage assessments as soon as safety conditions allow.
01:30I also note that this Council will shortly hear from IAEA Director General Grossi.
01:37The latest development must be viewed with the utmost seriousness.
01:44It marks a dangerous escalation in a conflict that has already devastated many lives in both countries in a region on the edge.
01:54It is a direct threat to international peace and security.
01:58Madam President, Undersecretary General DiCarlo told this Council only two days ago that we were teetering on the edge of a full-blown conflict.
02:12I fear we are now in that dangerous moment.
02:16Meanwhile, the hostilities between Israel and Iran continue and are now in their 10th day.
02:25Hours after the U.S. strikes, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, IRGC, said it had launched some 40 missiles at Israel.
02:37Israeli authorities reported that more than 85 people were injured in the barrage and numerous structures in Tel Aviv and its southern suburbs sustained heavy damage,
02:54including many residential buildings and an elder care home.
02:58Israel also said it had launched a series of strikes against military targets in Iran, including in Tehran, Tabriz and Yast.
03:09The Israel Defense Forces, IDF, said 30 fighter jets had struck dozens of military targets across Iran.
03:18Iranian media reported several civilian fatalities, including children, and damage to homes and other civilian infrastructure.
03:29Earlier, on 21st June, Israel attacked for a second time since 13th June the Isfahan nuclear complex, hitting six buildings.
03:40According to Iran's Ministry of Health, as of 21st June, 430 people have been killed and more than 3,500 others injured due to Israeli strikes across Iran.
03:56Most have been civilians.
03:59According to Israeli authorities, 25 Israelis have been killed and 1,300 more have been injured since the beginning of exchanges with Iran.
04:10Madam President, the conflict risks engulfing the region in further instability and volatility.
04:19Some non-state armed groups aligned with Iran warned against U.S. involvement.
04:26The Houthis in Yemen and some armed groups in Iraq vowed to attack if the U.S. intervened in the conflict between Israel and Iran.
04:36Iran's parliamentary parliament unanimously expressed support for measures to close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime route for global energy transit.
04:50Iran's Supreme National Security Council would need to take the final decision.
04:55I recall the rights and obligations of all states under international law in relation to maritime navigation.
05:05Madam President, the Middle East cannot afford yet another violent conflict where civilians pay the price of military confrontations.
05:14And the world will also not be spared from the ramifications of this dangerous conflict.
05:22I echo the Secretary General's call on member states and on the members of the Security Council to de-escalate and to uphold their obligations under the U.N. Charter,
05:34notably the obligation to settle their international disputes by peaceful means and other rules of international law.
05:44All states must live up to their nuclear commitments.
05:49All parties to the conflict must also comply with the relevant rules of international humanitarian law in the conduct of their military operations.
05:59There is no military solution to this conflict.
06:04We need diplomacy, de-escalation and confidence building now.
