Invasion of Iran is an Irreparable Blow to the Non-Proliferation Regime / America Has Turned to the Law of the Jungle

According to Saednews, Reza Najafi, speaking at the IAEA Board of Governors emergency meeting, emphasized: "The aggressive action by the United States, as one of the NPT’s trusted states, in attacking Iran’s safeguarded nuclear facilities — namely Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan — on July 22nd , occurred while IAEA inspectors were continuously present at these sites and all operations were under the Agency’s monitoring and verification."

He stated: "The U.S. President has openly accepted responsibility for the attack on Iran’s safeguarded nuclear facilities and has claimed to have destroyed Iran’s enrichment capabilities. Regardless of the validity of this claim, it is shameful that a trusted NPT state not only violates the fundamental principles of the treaty but openly boasts of an illegal act of aggression — boasting about savagery and aggression!"

Referring to the U.S. claim of upholding the rule of law and international law, Najafi said: "Who still dares to speak of the rule of law or the international legal order based on international law? The United States, through its actions, has discarded all legal norms and implemented the law of the jungle."

He added: "The aggressive actions by the U.S. and the Zionist regime targeting IAEA-safeguarded nuclear facilities have led Iran to conclude that such extensive cooperation can no longer serve its national interests, sovereignty, or security under current conditions."

The Iranian ambassador also stressed: "This recent aggression has dealt a fundamental and irreparable blow to the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and definitively shows that the NPT framework has become ineffective in achieving its core objectives, including preventing aggression against safeguarded nuclear facilities."

Najafi further explained: "The aggressive attacks by the U.S. and Israel have directly impacted the IAEA’s ability to conduct routine inspections, seriously challenging the effective implementation of the comprehensive safeguards agreement. Additionally, the security of nuclear materials, including enriched uranium, has been severely jeopardized. Consequently, the Agency’s continued knowledge in this area can no longer be guaranteed."

He said: "The U.S. and Israeli attacks may have widespread and destructive environmental consequences, posing serious risks of radioactive, chemical, and radiological contamination not only to Iran but to the entire region."

The ambassador emphasized: "The responsibility for these severe consequences lies not only with the aggressor coalition — the United States and Israel — but also with the IAEA and its Board of Governors, should they fail to fulfill their duties and take effective, appropriate, and principled actions in response to these illegal acts, including unequivocal condemnation."

Najafi highlighted Iran’s inherent right to self-defense, stating: "The Islamic Republic of Iran, in accordance with the UN Charter and the NPT, will fully defend its great nation, sovereignty, and national interests."

According to Saednews, today’s emergency IAEA Board meeting was convened following the aggressive U.S. action against Iran’s nuclear facilities. This is the second emergency Board meeting in seven days regarding attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites. In last week’s meeting, eleven countries jointly condemned the Israeli military attack as a blatant violation of international law and called for immediate IAEA and UN Security Council action to prevent recurrence.

Nevertheless, on the early hours of Sunday, July 22 , the United States directly attacked the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites, effectively joining Israel’s proxy war against Iran and sharply escalating regional tensions.

Following the attack, Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi issued an official statement asserting: "According to Article 51 of the UN Charter recognizing the right to self-defense against aggression, the Islamic Republic of Iran reserves all options to defend its people, interests, and national sovereignty."