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Update 3 July 2025: Iran enacts law suspending cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The law requires that any future inspection of Iran's nuclear sites by the IAEA needs approval by Tehran's Supreme National Security Council.
In response to this development, ICAN issued the following comment:
Iran must restore full cooperation with the IAEA immediately. Israel, the US and all other states, including Iran, should commit to no further use of force over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Iran has a responsibility to maintain its safeguards under the NPT and abide by its legal obligations under the treaty, while Israel should immediately join the NPT. Israel, the US and Iran should also get on the right side of history and join the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons without delay.
For Israel and the US, the Treaty allows for nuclear-armed states to join then verifiably dismantle their nuclear weapons within an initial period of 10 years. For Iran, the TPNW requires all non-nuclear-armed states to uphold their current level of nuclear safeguards in perpetuity.
On 21 June 2025, the United States bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities in an illegal and escalatory strike that threatens to ignite a broader war and undermines nuclear non-proliferation. The attack follows Israeli strikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories, senior military commanders and nuclear scientists on 13 June. Iran is not assessed by the United States or the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to be developing nuclear weapons, unlike nuclear-armed Israel and the United States.
On 21 June 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States had “successfully” “obliterated” Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities through targeted strikes on three facilities: Natanz, Fordow and Esfahan, which were all also targeted by Israel in previous strikes.
I am gravely alarmed by the use of force by the United States against Iran today. This is a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge – and a direct threat to international peace and security.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) June 22, 2025
There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of…
In response, the Iranian foreign minister posted on X: "The United States, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law and the (nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty) by attacking Iran's peaceful nuclear installations. The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences. Each and every member of the UN must be alarmed over this extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behaviour. In accordance with the UN Charter and its provisions allowing a legitimate response in self-defence, Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people."
The Natanz facility includes two uranium enrichment complexes and an unnamed underground facility. The Fordow Facility is a uranium enrichment facility buried into a mountain side. The Esfahan facility processes natural uranium, fabricates nuclear fuel, and converts uranium into powder and metal.
Media reports indicate that the United States dropped bunker-buster bombs from B2 bomber jets to target underground facilities at the Fordow site and submarine-launched cruise missiles to target Natanz and Esfahan.
The Executive Director of ICAN, Melissa Parke, said: “Military action against Iran is not the way to resolve concerns over Tehran’s nuclear programme, which were under negotiation before Israel’s attack last week. Given that US intelligence agencies assess Iran is not pursuing nuclear weapons, this is a senseless and reckless act that could undermine international efforts to prevent the further proliferation of nuclear weapons.”
The IAEA and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) have not reported increased levels of radiation near the bombed sites, but the Director General of the IAEA has warned that there is a risk this could occur.
Despite U.S. claims, there has not been an independent assessment of the extent of damage to the nuclear sites and without inspections from the IAEA, it is also not possible to know how the attacks have affected Iran’s stockpile of highly-enriched uranium, which could have been moved from these facilities prior to the attacks.
The international community has broadly called for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. The IAEA will convene an emergency meeting on Monday and Iran has called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
Military action is not a viable or long-term solution to prevent nuclear proliferation. International treaties such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which have provisions for verifiable nuclear disarmament and non-diversion of nuclear material for weapons, are essential and sustainable tools to prevent nuclear proliferation. Israel, the US and Iran should join the TPNW without delay. For Israel and the US, the Treaty allows for nuclear-armed states to join and then verifiably dismantle their nuclear weapons within an initial period of 10 years. For Iran, it requires all states to uphold their current level of nuclear safeguards.
All countries should also reject any logistical support for illegal attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, including denying permission for US B-2 or B-52 bombers attacking Iran to transit or refuel in their countries.