Ambassador Danon called on the Human Rights Committee to dismantle Iran's nuclear capabilities: "We will not accept 'just' another round of talks." In the Security Council, he attacked the Iranian representative:"A wolf posing as a diplomat, we are done pretending that the situation is different." The foreign minister from Tehran: "There is no room for negotiations until the aggression stops." At the same time, the IAEA chairman condemned:"Nuclear facilities should never be attacked. A radioactive leak would have serious consequences - not just for Iran."
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Danny Danon (Photo: AP Photo/Richard Drew)
In the shadow of the continuation of Operation "Am Kalavi" and the attempts in the US and Europe
Bringing Iran back to the negotiating table
Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon stated at noon (Friday) at the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva that "real efforts" are needed to dismantle Iran's nuclear capabilities, and emphasized:"If this is going to be just another round of talks - that is not something we can accept."
In his speech at the UN Security Council, Danon attacked the Iranian representative:"How dare a representative of a regime that tries to assassinate heads of state, finance global terrorism, and call for the destruction of countries, demand compassion from this council? You are not a victim. You are not a diplomat. You are a wolf posing as a diplomat, and we are done pretending that the situation is different."
Danon emphasized that "Iran launched a precise ballistic missile that directly hit Soroka Hospital in Beersheba, an institution that serves more than a million citizens of all religions. This is not a mistake - this is a deliberate action, a war crime and an attempt to murder the most vulnerable populations. The clear message of the attack on Soroka is that no one is safe. Today it is Beersheba, tomorrow it will be Brussels, and the day after that Boston. Iran is developing missiles with a range of 4,000 km and can also reach London, Paris, Rome - and New York."
Scene of a fall in Rehovot, this week
Danon further said that "Iran has enriched uranium to levels close to nuclear weapons, built underground facilities and lied to the Atomic Energy Agency and the entire world. The world is waking up too late, and Israel is acting to stop the threat." He sharply criticized UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who"in the midst of cries of 'Death to America' and 'Death to Israel,' he calls for 'restraint.' This is not balance, this is moral indifference that allows Iran to advance. Iran arms Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, Shiite militias in Iraq, extremist groups in Africa, and criminal agents in Latin America and Europe. Iranian terrorism has already hit Argentina, the United Arab Emirates, and cities in Europe.
"Just yesterday, Iran launched another missile with cluster bombs towards a civilian area in the center of the country. So far, 24 people have been killed, hundreds have been injured. This is a clear intention for mass murder. Operation 'Am Kalavi' was carried out after exhausting every diplomatic avenue, and only after the threat became immediate. The operation was carried out in full accordance with international law. Israel operates on the basis of reliable intelligence, distinguishes between military and civilian targets, and takes all measures to minimize harm to civilians. Iran, on the other hand, launches missiles at hospitals."
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"When we hit a launch site, the world screams. When Iran hits a surgical ward, the world is silent. This is not balance - this is a moral collapse," the ambassador said."We are doing what this council should have done long ago. We are protecting our children and your children. If no one leads this fight, we will."
France: "Israel attacked civilian infrastructure, Iran is destabilizing the region"
In the discussion, French representatives claimed that"Israel also attacked civilian infrastructure that is not related to the nuclear program, while IAEA data shows that radiation levels at certain sites remain under control." They called for "an end to military aggression, restraint, and a return to dialogue," and emphasized that the country's position is clear - Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.
According to them, Iran is destabilizing by transferring weapons to armed groups, and nuclear weapons in Tehran's hands would be a direct threat to Israel, the region, and the security of France and the European Union. France noted that Iran has intensified its nuclear activities - enriching uranium beyond the permitted scope, enriching it to levels without civilian justification, and placing hundreds of advanced centrifuges at prohibited sites. It was also noted that today in Geneva, the E3 foreign ministers are meeting with representatives of Iran and the European Union, with France announcing its willingness to immediately begin negotiations on a strengthened agreement that will ensure that Iran's nuclear program remains exclusively civilian.
The contacts, the negotiations, the denial
The world media reported in the past 24 hours that the US is holding talks with Iran in light of the ongoing war with Israel, but Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi strongly denied that the Islamic Republic is willing to advance the move."There is no room for negotiations with us until the Israeli aggression stops," he stated in an interview on Iranian television."The US requested negotiations through mediators, but we refused."
Araqchi also spoke at the UN committee in Geneva, where he claimed that Israel's attacks constitute a"war against humanity," as he put it. He attacked:"Iran is being attacked by an entity that has committed genocide in Palestine for two years and is occupying neighboring countries. It has assassinated many Iranian officials and citizens during attacks that targeted public infrastructure and hospitals. Israel has attacked nuclear facilities that are under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Iran is subject to aggression that cannot be justified in any way, and its justification is complicity in it."
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi
In the shadow of reports of possible negotiations, Araqchi accused the US of actually sabotaging the talks on the nuclear program:"We were supposed to meet with the Americans on June 15 to shape a very promising agreement, but Israel's attack was a diplomatic betrayal." Despite his statements, Araqchi is expected to meet after the committee with the European Union's foreign minister, as well as with the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany.
Israel's representative on the Human Rights Committee, Daniel Maron, expressed"strong opposition" to Iran's participation in a letter to the committee's chairman, and stated that"allowing the Iranian Foreign Minister to speak before this body undermines the committee's credibility and constitutes a blatant betrayal of the victims of the ayatollah regime around the world." Maron accused Iran in the letter of exploiting the committee as an international platform "to advance its tyrannical campaign." The committee's chairman, Jörg Lauber, said that he had allowed Araqchi to speak at the committee"in accordance with UN rules that allow for exceptional requests by heads of state and senior ministers."
Russia's ambassador to the UN accused Israel of attacking Iran "ignoring diplomatic efforts," demanded that Israel "immediately cease" the attacks, and claimed that"Israel's actions could drag third countries into this conflict." China's representative to the Security Council also called for "an immediate ceasefire, sufficient to prevent the situation from escalating."
IAEA chief's warning: "Serious consequences"
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, told the UN Security Council today that"nuclear facilities should never be attacked. This could end in the release of radioactive materials, and this would have serious consequences - and not only for the country under attack." Grossi called for "maximum restraint," and noted that "the state of nuclear facilities and materials must not be allowed to deteriorate."
"Will be under the 'fog of war'"
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Grossi explained that"the attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities have caused a significant increase in the level of nuclear risk, but so far no radioactive leakage has been recorded that threatens the population. The agency has been monitoring the sites since the beginning of the attacks. In Natanz, electrical infrastructure and central buildings were damaged, and an internal leakage of uranium gases was recorded, raising concerns about chemical poisoning. In Fordow, where uranium is enriched to a level of up to 60%, no damage has been detected at this stage. In Isfahan, chemical and nuclear facilities were damaged without a change in external radiation levels, but the main risk is chemical contamination.
"The heavy water facility in Arak was damaged but did not contain nuclear materials, so no radiological consequences are expected. In Tehran, a structure for advanced centrifuges was damaged, and in Karaj, buildings for the production of centrifuge components were destroyed - without a radiological impact. No damage was recorded at Bushehr, an active nuclear facility containing thousands of kilograms of nuclear material, but any attack could lead to a massive radioactive release and the need to evacuate civilians and take significant protective measures."
Grossi added that "the Agency continues to monitor developments and emphasizes that it will return to inspect the facilities as soon as security conditions allow. Inspection of uranium stocks - including more than 400 kilograms enriched to 60% - is essential to ensure that they are not hidden. Any protective measures by Iran for nuclear materials must be in place within the framework of the agreement with the Agency, and inspectors must be allowed to verify the integrity of the equipment. The Agency emphasizes that military attacks against nuclear facilities endanger human lives, could lead to a severe radioactive release, and make a diplomatic solution impossible. Similar to the situation in Ukraine, here too the Agency will not stand by - and is ready to expand its involvement in the field, including the deployment of safety experts alongside existing inspectors.
"Effective action requires constructive dialogue with Iran, and regular technical updates on any strikes. The Director-General urges the Iranian authorities to continue their cooperation, and makes it clear that accurate communication – especially in the face of publicity errors such as the misreporting of the Bushehr attack – is essential. A diplomatic solution is still possible, and the IAEA can provide the monitoring mechanism to ensure that Iran does not develop nuclear weapons. This is an opportunity that must be seized – the alternative is continued escalation and a real risk to the non-proliferation regime."
Grossi's comments come after attacks from senior Iranian officials in the past 24 hours, who have threatened legal action against him. The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, Mohammad Eslami, threatened that the Islamic Republic would"sue" Grossi for his "idleness," as he put it, while Israel attacks his country's nuclear facilities. In a letter published in Iran's Fars News Agency, Eslami attacked that"you must fulfill your duties according to the law and immediately cease your inaction and condemn these actions of the Zionist regime, which are contrary to international regulations. Iran will take the appropriate legal steps, especially regarding your lack of action."
Later, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaie also attacked Grossi, saying that he"betrayed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and turned the IAEA into a partner in an unjust and violent war on the part of Israel." According to him,"Misleading narratives have bad consequences. You have turned the IAEA into a convenient tool for countries that are not members of the NPT treaty, to deprive its members of their basic rights."
In response to Islami's remarks, Grossi told CNN that
