Thank you, Madam President, and thank you Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenca, and Director-General Rafael Grossi for your continued attention on this urgent matter of international peace and security.
Last evening, U.S. military strikes targeted nuclear facilities in Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan with the aim of dismantling Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and stopping the nuclear threat posed by the world’s foremost state sponsor of terror.
This operation sought to eliminate a longstanding but rapidly escalating source of global insecurity and to aid our ally Israel in our inherent right of collective self-defense consistent with the UN Charter.
For 40 years, the Iranian government has called for “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” and posed a constant menace to the peace and security of its neighbors, the United States, and the entire world.
Iran has attacked Israel with hundreds of ballistic missiles and through terrorist proxies. For decades, Iran has been responsible for misery and countless deaths across the Middle East. Iran’s government and its proxies have also killed numerous Americans, including American service members in Iraq and Afghanistan. In recent weeks, Iranian officials have intensified their hostile bluster and rhetoric. Iran has long obfuscated its nuclear weapons program and stonewalled good-faith efforts in recent negotiations.
The time finally came for the United States, in defense of its ally and in defense of our own citizens' interests, to act decisively. The Iranian regime cannot have a nuclear weapon.
Let us be clear: Iran should not escalate. As President Trump said any Iranian attack – direct or indirect – against Americans or American bases will be met with devastating retaliation.
To fulfill its core mission of maintaining international peace and security this Council must call upon the Iranian regime to end its forty-seven-year effort to eradicate the State of Israel terminate its drive for nuclear weapons stop targeting American citizens' interests negotiate peace in good faith for prosperity security of Iranian people all other States region
A Member State here today cast aspersions about hypocrisy raised forthcoming meeting on UN Security Council resolution 2231 In that regard I would point out that recent IAEA report on verification monitoring Iran's non-compliance obligatory nuclear safeguards shows clearly that Iran has been continuing accelerate nuclear activities without any credible civilian justification We look forward discussing implications this report broader implications Tuesday when Secretariat briefs report implementation UNSCR 2231
Thank you Madam President.