Iran nuclear chief warns harsher response to future attacks

TEHRAN, Sep. 15 (MNA) – At the IAEA General Conference, Iran’s nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami warned that Tehran will deliver an even harsher response if the US or Israel repeat their attacks, stressing Iran’s nuclear science won't be erased by force.
He made the remarks at the 69th IAEA General Conference, which opened in Vienna with senior representatives from member states.
We expect the conference to defend Iran's rights and condemn the illegal actions of the Zionist regime and the United States, he said.
"Early on Friday, June 13, the Zionist regime launched a military attack on my country. Israel targeted safeguarded nuclear facilities," the Iranian nuclear chief said. "The whole world witnessed that the proud armed forces of Iran shattered the awe and hegemony of the criminals and gave crushing responses to the [Israeli] regime and the United States. If they commit a mistake again, Iran's response will be even more crushing."
The head of the Atomic Energy Organization stated that nuclear science and knowledge in Iran will not be destroyed by military operations, aggression, and terror, saying, "The goal of the child-killing Zionist regime's operations is not only to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities, but has always sought to destroy the path of diplomacy and peace."
He called Israel’s attacks on Iran an unprecedented violation in the IAEA’s history and a blatant breach of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, as well as multiple UN Security Council and IAEA resolutions.
Eslami further criticized the UN Security Council and IAEA Board of Governors for failing to adopt a firm stance against these attacks due to US political pressure, arguing that this has seriously harmed the non-proliferation and safeguards system.
"Iran’s cooperation with the Agency has been extensive and consistent. The latest Director General’s report before the aggression (GOV/2025/25)—despite our serious considerations regarding its content—also does not establish any violation of Iran’s safeguards obligations or any diversion in nuclear material. The report explicitly confirmed that there is no evidence of a nuclear weapons development program in Iran."
He added that regrettably, in his so-called comprehensive report, the IAEA Director General made not even a single reference to the “Final Assessment” of 2015 and the Board of Governors’ resolution GOV/2015/72, in which the Board legally and explicitly declared all past issues closed. "It is as if the Agency has completely ignored such a resolution. "Even the Agency itself referred to this resolution in a letter to Iran regarding verification activities. If this is not an unprofessional and biased approach, then what is?"
"Despite our formal correspondence and the submission of a request to strongly condemn attacks on Iran’s safeguarded nuclear facilities—documented in INFCIRC/1301—the Agency failed to condemn these illegal actions, could not protect the integrity of its safeguards system, and failed to fulfill its Statutory mission. This silence and inaction will remain a disgraceful stain in the history of the Agency."
"The recent Director General’s report confirms that, as a direct result of the aggressive actions carried out by the United States and the Israeli regime against safeguarded nuclear facilities, inspections and verification activities have been suspended. It must therefore be emphasized that the principal cause of the suspension of inspections and verification activities of the Agency is the unlawful use of force against Iran’s nuclear facilities by the United States and the Israeli regime. Our Parliament, due to national security considerations and in response to the profound shift in the security environment created by these military aggressions, approved the suspension of activities related to Agency safeguards. This does not mean withdrawal from the NPT. Iran remains a state party to this Treaty; however, the continuation of cooperation with the Agency will be pursued through new arrangements once the security concerns of the nation and its nuclear facilities are addressed."
"It must be acknowledged that what has happened to my country is unprecedented in the history of safeguards. The Safeguards Agreement does not foresee how interactions should continue under extremely critical conditions following aggression and ongoing threats against nuclear facilities and sites. Therefore, a new definition of how safeguards are to be implemented under such circumstances must be envisaged and agreed upon, particularly with regard to ensuring the safety and security of nuclear facilities and personnel. The recent understanding reached between the Agency and Iran has been specifically designed to address the exceptional and unprecedented circumstances created by the aforementioned aggressions." 
Elsewhere in his remarks, Eslami referred to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), saying that the deal could have been an example of the success of diplomacy, especially for the international community. "For one year, and even after the unilateral withdrawal of the United States from the JCPOA and the illegal re-imposition of sanctions, Iran fully implemented this agreement, as confirmed in 15 consecutive Director General’s reports. The Western parties never fulfilled their own commitments. According to international law, a party that has failed to fulfill its obligations cannot demand the implementation of obligations by the other party under the same agreement or treaty. Yet today, as we approach the termination date of the JCPOA on 18 October 2025, we again witness attempts—including the unlawful and baseless activation of the so-called “snapback mechanism” by the three European countries." He stressed that this procedural abuse of multilateral mechanisms is not only illegal, but also a mockery of the rule of law and the text of Resolution 2231 and the JCPOA.
He went on to say that the three European countries, which never complied with their JCPOA obligations and remain indebted to the Iranian nation, are not entitled to absolve themselves of their own culpability while posturing as creditors of Iran. "They are infamous for bad faith and mischief-making. Any attempt by the three European countries to restore the provisions of the United Nations Security Council resolutions that were terminated under Resolution 2231 is null and void and without any legal effect. Resolution 2231 must expire precisely according to the timetable on 18 October 2025."
"Iran will not yield to pressure and will not renounce its inherent and legitimate rights under the NPT and international law. We call on the international community to oppose these glaring contradictions and to support the principles of sovereignty, non-use of force, and the peaceful settlement of disputes. We call on the international community to demonstrate that no one is above the law. At the same time, although Iran believes in diplomatic and political solutions, it will not submit to political, psychological, or military pressure. The noble Iranian nation is determined and united in securing its rights."
Eslami sincerely thanked those members who, by defending the principles of the UN Charter, rose against this unprecedented challenge and stood on the right side of history. 
Stressing that in this crisis, Iran stands as an aggrieved claimant, not a culpable offender, Eslami underlined, "The path forward is clear: condemn the attacks on Iran’s safeguarded nuclear facilities and restore respect for international law; address Iran’s legitimate security concerns; and return integrity and impartiality to the Agency. Any course of action other than this would constitute a betrayal of the UN Charter and the Agency’s Statute, create a dangerous precedent, and risk normalizing illegality while eroding the very foundations upon which the international order is built."
"In this regard, Iran has submitted a draft resolution aimed at serving the international community. This draft is entirely based on safeguarding the Agency’s mission, in full conformity with its Statute, and with adherence to the fundamental principles of international law and the UN Charter. Given the professional and principled positions taken by many independent Member States of the Agency, we expect the General Conference—representing the collective will of all Member States—to take appropriate measures in response to these unlawful attacks on nuclear facilities. It is the responsibility of the Conference to resist any attempt to normalize or even legitimize such unlawful attacks and to firmly defend the common and fundamental principles of the international community as well as the Agency’s statutory mission."
He concluded by saying that the recent threats by the United States in this regard, including political pressure on countries and the instrumentalization of the Agency through various means, including pressure on its budget, must be opposed and condemned by Member States.