Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi vehemently denounced recent U.S. military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, labeling them a “blatant violation” of international law and the UN Charter.

Speaking at a press conference in Istanbul on Sunday, Araghchi warned that Tehran is evaluating its response options, asserting that a “red line” has been crossed.

“The U.S. attack on Iran is an outrageous, grave, and unprecedented violation of the fundamental principles of the UN Charter and international law,” Araghchi said, holding Washington solely responsible for any ensuing consequences of what he called “lawless aggression.”

While emphasizing the importance of diplomacy, Araghchi stressed that Iran’s priority is now national defense. “The door to diplomacy should always be kept open, but this is not the case right now. My country is under attack, and we will respond based on our legitimate right of self-defense for as long as needed,” he declared.

Araghchi revealed that Tehran is assessing the damage caused by the strikes and called on international bodies, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to address the crisis. In a significant diplomatic step, he announced plans to travel to Moscow on Monday to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the escalating tensions and their regional implications.

The foreign minister’s remarks came during his attendance at the 51st session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers in Istanbul, where regional conflicts and collective responses to global challenges are under discussion. (ILKHA)