In his first comment on the US strike on Iran, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un criticized the US attacks on Iran's nuclear reactors, which took place early Sunday morning.
Commenting on the US strike on Iran, the North Korean leader said, "Two countries with nuclear facilities are bombing another country because it has nuclear facilities... I also have nuclear facilities. Why hasn't anyone approached me?"
The US strike and escalation in the region
A few days ago, the South Korean Ministry of Defense announced that its northern neighbor had launched more than 12 missiles from the Sunan area of the capital, Pyongyang, at approximately 10:00 a.m. local time. These missiles are currently undergoing careful analysis by Korean and US intelligence agencies, according to an official statement.
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South Korea's Ministry of Defense stated that the military is fully prepared to respond to any provocative move by North Korea, stressing that Korean and American forces are working in joint defense coordination to maintain stability in the region. The statement emphasized the need for Pyongyang not to miscalculate the current security situation.
Iranian President Comments on US Strike
For his part, in his first comment on the escalating events and the US targeting of Iranian nuclear facilities, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that "the US attack shows that Washington is the main driver behind the Israeli strikes," adding that it "joined the scene after witnessing Israel's impotence."
He emphasized that "this action clearly proves that the United States is the main driver of the hostile actions perpetrated by the Zionist entity against the Islamic Republic of Iran."
He added that although the Americans initially attempted to conceal their role, after the decisive and deterrent response by the Iranian armed forces, and after witnessing the Zionist entity's impotence, they were forced to directly enter the confrontation arena.
Tehran Pledges to Defend Its Territory
The Iranian president added that "the Zionist regime's aggression against our country, despite the losses it caused and the martyrdom of a number of leaders, scholars, and dear citizens, should be an incentive to put aside differences and activate the tremendous energies of the people. The Iranian people have repeatedly demonstrated their willingness to sacrifice their lives to defend this nation's soil and preserve its sovereignty."
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Hours earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in a press conference in Istanbul on Sunday that Tehran strongly condemns the US attacks and considers them a "violation of international law." This came hours after the United States targeted Iranian nuclear facilities in Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz.
The Iranian foreign minister said that Tehran will continue to defend its sovereignty and its people, stressing that US President Donald Trump "deceived not only Iran but also his country."
Iran after the US strike: They crossed a red line
He added, "America crossed a very big red line by attacking Iran's nuclear facilities," while not ruling out his country's withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Araghchi said the extent of the damage to nuclear facilities is being investigated, noting that the Iranian armed forces are on high alert. Asked about the possibility of his country closing the Strait of Hormuz, Araghchi said, "All options are on the table."
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The Iranian foreign minister also called on the International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors to condemn the attack on nuclear facilities, stressing that Tehran reserves all options to defend its security, interests, and people.
Previously, the Iranian foreign minister accused the United States and its ally, Israel, on Sunday of "sabotaging diplomacy," questioning how Tehran could return to the "negotiating table" when it had never left.
President Donald Trump announced that US aircraft had struck Iran's Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear facilities.
Trump asserted that the US airstrikes on Iran "totally and completely destroyed" three targeted nuclear facilities and threatened further, more severe strikes if Tehran did not seek peace or retaliated.
In a televised address from the White House after his country joined the Israeli military campaign against Iran, Trump described the US attacks as a "remarkable military success."
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