US airstrike on Iran: What did Tehran say in its first statement?
Tehran has officially spoken out, accusing the US of violating international law and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) by conducting airstrikes on its key nuclear facilities.
At the same time, Iranian authorities also reassured public opinion that no leaks or radioactive contamination were detected at the attacked sites.
In an official statement released early on June 22, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) confirmed that US airstrikes hit its nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan in the early hours of the morning. The AEOI called the operation a "heinous" and illegal act.
Iranian officials have criticized Washington for publicly claiming responsibility for attacks on sites that operate under the supervision of international inspectors.
“This action… was unfortunately carried out under the cover of indifference and even with the support of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),” the AEOI statement alleged.
A separate statement from Iran's National Nuclear Safety System Center confirmed that emergency inspections were conducted at all three sites.
"No signs of contamination were recorded," the center said, adding that "there is no danger to people living around the above-mentioned locations."
The AEOI has declared that Iran's nuclear programme will not be stopped by what it describes as "sinister conspiracy theories".
The organization praised the resilience of Iranian scientists and announced that legal measures would be pursued in response to the airstrikes. "We will not allow the development of this national industry, which is the result of the blood of the martyrs in the nuclear field, to be stopped," the organization asserted.
The US air strikes marked the most direct military action against Iran's nuclear program in years and came amid escalating tensions following a series of drone and missile attacks between Israel and Iran.
Iran has yet to announce any military response but has described the airstrikes as a “crime” and a violation of its sovereignty. For its part, President Trump has warned Tehran against retaliation, threatening further attacks.
