The United Nations Secretary-General has issued a stark warning following U.S. airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities, calling for urgent diplomatic efforts to prevent what he described as “catastrophic consequences".
President Donald Trump confirmed late Saturday that the U.S. military had carried out strikes on Iran’s Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan nuclear sites, facilities long suspected by the West of playing a role in Tehran’s potential nuclear weapons program.
“Our objective was the destruction of Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world’s number one state sponsor of terror,” Trump said in a national address, per CBS News. “Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success.”
While the extent of the damage and whether there were casualties remain unconfirmed, the strikes mark a dramatic escalation in an already volatile regional conflict involving Iran and Israel.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, has since condemned the U.S. military operation as a violation of international law.
“The United States, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law, and the NPT by attacking Iran’s peaceful nuclear installations,” Araghchi wrote on X.
He added that “Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people.”
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed grave concern over the U.S. action, describing it as a dangerous development with far-reaching implications.
“I am gravely alarmed by the use of force by the United States against Iran today,” Guterres said in a statement on Sunday, per Middle East News. “This is a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge, and a direct threat to international peace and security.”
He warned that without restraint, the situation could rapidly spiral out of control: “There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control, with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world.”
Calling for calm, Guterres urged all UN member states to adhere to international law and commit to diplomatic dialogue.
“There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace,” he said.
Tensions between Iran and Israel have been steadily rising in recent weeks, with Israel launching airstrikes on Iranian targets in Tehran earlier this month, citing concerns over Iran’s uranium enrichment and its potential to develop a nuclear warhead.
Iran has since retaliated with its own missile launches, increasing fears of a wider regional conflict. The U.S. had previously remained on the sidelines of the direct exchange between Iran and Israel, but the latest intervention signals a significant shift in American involvement.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Sunday that Trump was "fully committed to the peace process" and "gave Iran every single opportunity, and unfortunately, was met by stonewalling".
"There was certainly a moment in time where he realized that it had to be a certain action taken in order to minimize the threat to us and our troops," Hegseth added.
The international community is now closely watching for Iran’s next move, as global leaders call for calm to prevent further escalation.