Statement on condemns the US strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites

The Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs (ECFA) condemns the US strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, which represents a blatant and irresponsible departure from the negotiating track, in which Iran has been engaged from the beginning, and a setback for regional and international efforts to reach a nuclear agreement that guarantees the interests of all parties.

The failure of the US administration to pressure Israel to stop its aggression against Iran, as well as President Trump’s repeated warnings that it must “surrender unconditionally” and “accept the complete dismantlement of its nuclear program”, have rendered a negotiated solution, which he has repeatedly talked about, elusive. In this context, the Council stresses that the US strikes will lead to a wider conflict and will not put an end to the Iranian nuclear crisis. U.S. military strikes would not destroy Iran’s vast nuclear knowledge. It could also push Iran to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Finally, the Council stresses that these strikes constitute a widespread violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations and an infringement on the sovereignty of the Iranian State, especially since the reports of the International Atomic Energy Agency indicated that Iran did not have a systematic path forward in acquiring nuclear weapons.