He made the remarks while addressing a gathering of foreign ambassadors in Tehran on Monday.

A press release was issued in this regard by the Iranian Embassy in Dhaka on Tuesday (June 17).

Araghchi said the Israeli attacks began early Friday morning without any prior warning, coinciding with ongoing nuclear talks between Iran and the United States. The sixth round of those talks was scheduled to take place in Muscat, Oman.

He strongly condemned the attacks on Natanz nuclear facility and residential areas in Tehran, as well as the killing of civilians, nuclear scientists, and senior military officials in their own homes.

He said these actions go against the basic principles of international law and are illegal.

Araghchi also criticised the weak response from European countries, saying some nations have unjustly targeted Iran instead of holding Israel accountable. He noted that several other countries have expressed support for Iran’s stance.

He clarified that Iran’s retaliatory strikes were within the framework of international law and based on the principle of “legitimate self-defence.” The response, he said, targeted only military and economic sites located in “occupied territories.”

Araghchi added that Israel struck Iran’s oil refineries and economic areas, prompting Iran to respond against Israeli economic infrastructure.

He urged the international community to strongly condemn the aggression and warned that silence in the face of such actions could lead to dangerous consequences.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani posted on X (formerly Twitter), criticising Israel’s narrative. 

He said Israeli officials are claiming precision attacks that avoid civilian areas, but the truth is different.

“In just three strikes, more than 70 women and children have been killed,” Kanaani wrote. “In Chamran suburb, 20 children were trapped under rubble, and the bodies of 10 are still missing.”

He accused Israel of deliberately targeting women and children, calling it part of its “brutal nature.”

In another post on X, Kanaani addressed the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, urging him to clearly and unambiguously condemn the Israeli attacks on Iran.

“The world expects you, in your responsible position, to denounce this aggression without ambiguity, excuse, or distorted interpretation,” he wrote.