Iran’s Reaction to Israeli Strikes
Multiple reports indicate that Iran’s foreign minister labeled recent Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear sites and military figures as “a declaration of war.” This statement comes from the office of Foreign Minister Abbas Aragut, which also emphasized that Israel’s “aggression against Iran could not have occurred without the coordination and approval of the United States.”
According to the Iranian foreign ministry, the U.S. government, as the primary supporter of Israel, will share responsibility for the potential repercussions of these “reckless actions” by Israel.
In a notable incident, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Commander Hossein Salami and Chief General Mohammad Bagheri were reportedly killed in an Israeli strike. As of Friday morning, Ahmad Vahidi was named as the temporary replacement for Salami, while Habibora Sayyari took over Bagheri’s responsibilities. Reports from Iranian media, cited by Jerusalem Post, discussed these changes.
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Prior to these developments, Vahidi had held roles as the Iranian Minister of Defence and the Minister of Home Affairs, and he led the IRGC’s Elite Quds Force from 1988 to 1998. Interestingly, during his tenure, he was linked to the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Sayyari, a former Marine, was in charge of the Iranian navy from 2007 to 2017.
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Following the airstrike on June 13, 2025, Iran’s Foreign Ministry asserted that these actions constitute a violation of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, describing them as a severe attack on the Islamic Republic.
Under Article 51 of the UN Charter, Iran claims the right to respond to this aggression. The Iranian military has stressed it will defend the country’s sovereignty with full force.
As a founding member of the UN, Iran notes that it aims to uphold the peace and security that the organization represents, emphasizing that the actions of Israel are a breach of international peace standards.
It was asserted that the consequences of these attacks will rest solely on the “Zionist regime and its supporters.” This statement underscores the ongoing tensions in the region.
