Iran strikes Israel in revenge attacks as it warns of 'unprecedented danger and chaos' after US hits nuclear sites
22 June 2025, 09:10 | Updated: 22 June 2025, 11:13
Iran has hit Israel in revenge strikes for what it called the "extremely dangerous" US attacks on its nuclear facilities overnight.
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Iran said it has already launched a wave of retaliatory strikes on Israel after three of its nuclear sites were hit by the US' bunker buster bombs on Saturday night.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it used 40 solid and liquid fuel missiles to targets including Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, a biological research centre and a command centre.
It also claimed to have deployed the Kheibar Shekan multi-warhead ballistic missile for the first time.
Iran's foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi blasted the US strikes on three of its nuclear facilities as "extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behaviour".
In a statement, he said that every member of the United Nations should be "alarmed" by the "grave violation of the UN charter".
He said: "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.
"The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences.
"Each and every member of the UN must be alarmed over this extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behavior.
"In accordance with the UN Charter and its provisions allowing a legitimate response in self-defence, Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people."
Read more: Trump hails 'spectacular military success' after US 'obliterates' Iran's nuclear capabilities
He has said diplomatic talks are "irrelevant" as he alleged Israel and the US attacked Iran in the while of such talks were taking place previously.
"I think it is irrelevant to ask Iran to return to diplomacy because we were in the middle of diplomacy, we were in the middle of talks with the United States when Israelis blew it up."
He added: "And again, we were in the middle of talks and negotiation with the Europeans happened only two days ago in Geneva, when this time, Americans decided to blow it up.
"So we were in diplomacy, but we were attacked."
He also referred to Trump as a "lawless bully" who "deceived his own voters", warning that "silence will plunge the world into an unprecedented level of danger and chaos" as he urged the international community to condemn the attacks.
"While President Trump was elected on a platform of putting an end to America's costly involvement in forever wars in our part of the world, he has betrayed not only Iran by abusing our commitment to diplomacy, but also deceived his own voters," he added.
The US stunned the world on Saturday night by striking three Iranian nuclear facilities with a dozen "bunker buster bombs".
US president Donald Trump authorised the bombings of the underground Fordow plant, one of the country’s key nuclear sites, and two other facilities in the early hours of Sunday morning, calling it a “successful attack”.
He surprised the world a little before 8 p.m. Saturday by announcing on Truth Social that he had given the go-ahead to attack Iran, using 12 massive 30,000-pound 'bunker buster' bombs and 30 Tomahawk missiles to destroy Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.
In what is the most consequential decision of Mr Trump’s presidency so far, the assault signals a significant escalation in the conflict with Tehran.
Pressure had been mounting on the US to intervene in the escalating conflict in support of Israel, and to force Iran’s leaders to end its nuclear programme.
Trump told reporters on Friday that he was not interested in sending ground forces into Iran, saying it's "the last thing you want to do."
He had previously indicated that he would make a final choice over the course of two weeks, a timeline that seemed drawn out as the situation was evolving quickly.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said Tehran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon after the US' strikes.
In a statement on Sunday morning, the PM said: “Iran’s nuclear programme is a grave threat to international security. Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat.
“The situation in the Middle East remains volatile and stability in the region is a priority. We call on Iran to return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis.”
Starmer's statement comes after the US military bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities in an historic strike against the Islamic Republic.
Trump last night claimed the attack using B2 steal bombers had been "a spectacular military success," something Tehran denied.
Reports from the US suggested that the bombers flew direct from the US rather than using the joint UK/US base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.
There is understood to have been no UK involvement in the action, which comes after Sir Keir and Foreign Secretary David Lammy had pushed for a diplomatic solution rather than US action which could further destabilise the region.
