Global outcry mounts over U.S. raids on Iran's nuclear sites

International community condemnsU.S. raids on Iran's nuclear sites, calling it a violation of international law and a threat to regional and global security.

BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Washington faces sharp condemnation across the globe after President Donald Trump boasted about U.S. raids on Iranian nuclear facilities, amid rising warnings of a dangerous escalation.

The raids came amid intensified Israeli attacks on Iranian territory since June 13, which killed Iran's senior commanders, nuclear scientists and hundreds of civilians. Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Sunday that the U.S. bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities marks a perilous turn in a region that is already reeling.

"We must act -- immediately and decisively -- to halt the fighting and return to serious, sustained negotiations on the Iran nuclear program," he urged.

The U.S. move seriously violates the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, as well as Iran's sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, said Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, at an emergency meeting of the Security Council. It has exacerbated tensions in the Middle East and dealt a heavy blow to the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, Fu added.

Russia also vehemently condemned the U.S. "irresponsible, dangerous and provocative" actions against Iran, a sovereign country and a UN member state, said Vassily Nebenzia, Russia's permanent representative to the United Nations, at the emergency meeting.

Governments in the Middle East sounded the alarm over the bombing of Iran's Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan nuke sites, calling them a violation of international law and a threat to regional and global security.

Iran's foreign ministry called the operation a "brutal military aggression" and accused Washington of committing "a major crime" with "very precarious impacts and consequences." It said the attack violated the UN Security Council Resolution 2231 and the Non-Proliferation Treaty, vowing to defend its security and sovereignty "with full force."

Iraq on Sunday strongly condemned the targeting of Iran's nuclear infrastructure, calling for "immediate de-escalation and the urgent opening of diplomatic channels to contain the situation and defuse the crisis."

Hamas denounced what it called "the blatant U.S. aggression" against the territory and sovereignty of Iran, accusing Washington of "a blind adherence to the Israeli agendas" and "a flagrant violation of international law."

Oman's foreign ministry described the U.S. action as "unlawful aggression" and called for immediate and comprehensive de-escalation. The Houthi group in Yemen also condemned the strikes and threatened to target U.S. vessels in the Red Sea.

Analysts say the U.S. strikes have shifted the rules of engagement between Washington and Tehran.

"The timing of the strike raises serious questions," said Ahmed Al-Janabi, a professor of international relations and media at the Higher Colleges of Technology in the United Arab Emirates.

"The decision to launch a military operation before a two-week deadline for a nuclear agreement may be linked to internal political calculations or pressure from U.S. regional allies," he said.

Monumental damage was done to all nuclear sites in Iran, Trump wrote in a social media post on Truth Social on Monday. "Obliteration is an accurate term."

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a statement on social media X that his nation "reserves all options" in responding to the U.S. attacks, which will have everlasting consequences. (Yang Ziyue contributed to this story.)■