BRICS condemns US-Israeli strikes on Iran

Department of Research, Studies and International News 07-07-2025

In a powerful display of international solidarity, Iran has called for global accountability after a devastating military assault by Israel, fully backed by the United States, targeted its military, nuclear, and civilian infrastructure. Speaking at the BRICS+ summit in Rio de Janeiro, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned what he described as a blatant act of aggression and a serious breach of international law.

The Israeli regime launched a surprise attack on June 13, striking key Iranian sites in Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan. The coordinated strikes resulted in the deaths of at least 935 Iranians and injured over 5,300 civilians, according to figures released by Iran’s Health Ministry. What began as an Israeli offensive quickly escalated into a wider conflict when the United States joined the campaign, launching further attacks on Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities, actions Tehran has classified as acts of war.

“The full involvement of the United States in targeting our nuclear sites leaves no ambiguity about Washington’s role in this aggression,” Araghchi declared at the summit. He further stressed that the attacks represent a direct violation of both the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231, which in 2015 endorsed Iran’s peaceful nuclear program.

Despite the West’s attempts to frame the situation as a defensive maneuver, international response, particularly from the Global South, has painted a vastly different picture. The BRICS+ bloc, now expanded to 11 member nations, issued a unified statement denouncing the strikes as illegal and destabilizing.

“We condemn the military strikes against the Islamic Republic of Iran since 13 June 2025,” the joint declaration read. Although it stopped short of directly naming the United States and Israel, the message was unmistakable. “We further express serious concern over deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities,” it added.

This rare diplomatic alignment offers Iran critical support at a time when Western-dominated institutions continue to shield Tel Aviv and Washington from scrutiny. The statement marked a pivotal moment for BRICS+, whose members, including China and Russia, are increasingly challenging the Western monopoly on international norms and justice.

In the aftermath of the aggression, Iran exercised its legitimate right to self-defense under international law, launching precision drone and missile attacks on Israeli territory. The retaliation reportedly killed at least 29 people and wounded over 3,400 others. Iranian officials emphasized that their counterstrikes were carefully calibrated to avoid civilian targets and intended solely to demonstrate deterrence.

The conflict eventually halted under a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States, which took effect on June 24. However, Tehran has openly criticized the ceasefire as a superficial solution that fails to address the root causes of the violence, namely, unchecked Israeli militarism and American complicity.

Observers have noted that the silence of Western powers in the face of Israel’s blatant aggression further exposes the double standards that dominate global politics. While nations like Iran are vilified and sanctioned for defensive or even civilian nuclear programs, the Israeli regime, armed to the teeth with nuclear weapons and backed unconditionally by Washington, continues to act with impunity.

Araghchi warned that failure to hold Israel and the United States accountable could pave the way for further instability across the Middle East and beyond. “If this aggression is allowed to go unanswered, then the entire region will be held hostage to the whims of one reckless regime and its enablers,” he cautioned.

The Iranian government is now calling on international bodies, including the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to conduct independent investigations into the strikes and to take concrete actions to uphold international law. Russia and China have both signaled support for Iran’s demand, signaling a possible shift in global diplomatic alignments away from the hegemony of Western powers.

As the dust settles, Iran’s position is gaining traction among countries disillusioned by the hypocrisy and violence often masked as “democracy promotion” or “defense” by the United States and its allies. The latest developments mark not just a diplomatic victory for Tehran, but also a turning point for multipolar cooperation in the face of unilateral aggression.