“The bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities by the United States marks a perilous turn in a region that is already reeling,” U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Security Council on Sunday.

“We now risk descending into a rathole of retaliation after retaliation. We must act – immediately and decisively – to halt the fighting and return to serious, sustained negotiations on the Iran nuclear program.”

Iran’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Amir Sa’eid Iravani said Iran’s actions are fully consistent with Article 51 of the U.N. Charter, which recognizes the inherent right to self-defense.

Iran will take all necessary and appropriate measures to protect our people, national sovereignty, territorial integrity, vital national interests, and our peaceful nuclear program, in accordance with international law, he said.

According to Iravani, the U.N. Security Council must act decisively and silence will amount to complicity in these crimes. He added that if the council fails to take action and condemn this blatant aggression, the stain of complicity—just as it has remained in the case of Gaza—will forever mark its conscience.

Russia’s representative to the United Nations also condemned both American and Israeli acts of aggression against Iran, saying, “The attacks carried out by the United States and Israel constitute a complete humiliation of the international community.”

“Some members of this Council do not have the courage to condemn these attacks. The United States has shown time and again that it does not value diplomacy,” Vasily Nebenzya remarked.

In his remarks, the Chinese ambassador condemned the U.S. strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities as a grave breach of international law, warning that the move constitutes a dangerous violation of the U.N. Charter, international law, and Iran’s sovereignty. “The U.S. attacks have dealt a major blow to the global framework for preventing the spread of nuclear weapons,” Fu Cong said.

In a fiery speech, Pakistan’s ambassador, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, also condemned the attack as deeply troubling. “The sharp rise in tensions and violence as a result of Israeli aggression and unlawful actions is profoundly disturbing,” he said. “Pakistan stands in solidarity with the government and brotherly people of Iran during this challenging time.”

Iraq’s ambassador described the bombing as a violation of international treaties, saying the strike amounts to an escalation of danger and poses a threat to international peace and security. Abbas Kadhom Obaid said that targeting nuclear facilities marks a dangerous development. He added that the developments in the region represent a real test for the international system.

Algeria’s envoy said the targeting of nuclear facilities undermines the credibility of the global system, warning that developments in the region are unfolding at an alarming pace and that the region cannot withstand another war. Amar Bendjama said that targeting nuclear facilities under international supervision undermines the credibility of the global non-proliferation regime (N.P.T.)

For his part, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (I.A.E.A.), Rafael Grossi, said there is still an opportunity to return to dialogue and diplomacy, stressing the need to resume negotiations and allow I.A.E.A. inspectors to return to Iran’s nuclear facilities. “Iran has informed the I.A.E.A. there has been no increase in off-site radiation levels at all three sites,” said Grossi.

In related news, Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp warned about the consequences of the United States’ aggression, saying the move could worsen the already concerning situation in West Asia. Veldkamp, whose country is set to host the upcoming NATO summit on Tuesday and Wednesday, stated that the U.S. strikes have further intensified tensions in the region, adding that his country’s National Security Council will give special attention to the issue at its next meeting.