Iran Insists on Right to Peaceful Nuclear Energy After US-Israeli Strikes — Foreign Ministry

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has reaffirmed the country’s determination to pursue nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, despite recent military strikes by the United States and Israel on its nuclear facilities.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei dismissed U.S. claims that Iran’s nuclear infrastructure had been “completely destroyed,” and insisted that Tehran’s right to nuclear energy remains legally protected under international treaties.

“Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear energy remains intact,” Baghaei stated. “We have every right under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, and we are prepared to defend and reserve that right under any circumstances.”

When pressed about the extent of damage to Iran’s nuclear sites and the status of its enriched uranium stockpiles, Baghaei downplayed those concerns, urging the global community to focus instead on condemning what he described as “lawless aggression” by Washington and Tel Aviv.

“The real issue is not how much damage was done. The real issue is that the United States and Israel carried out an unprovoked act of war against a sovereign nation,” he said. “This is a grave blow to international law, diplomacy, and the ethical foundations of the global order.”

Baghaei criticized international reactions that, in his view, failed to grasp the seriousness of the attack.

“It is deeply troubling that people are discussing the effectiveness of the strike rather than its illegality,” he added.

The remarks come days after coordinated U.S.-Israeli airstrikes reportedly targeted nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, escalating already high tensions in the Middle East. Iran has yet to give a full technical assessment of the damage but continues to insist its nuclear program remains alive.