Ambassador Dorothy Shea
Acting U.S. Representative
New York, New York
June 22, 2025

AS DELIVERED

Thank you, Madam President, and thank you Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenca, and Director-General Rafael Grossi, for your continued attention on this urgent matter of international peace and security.

Madam President, last evening, U.S. military strikes targeted nuclear facilities in Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan – with the aim of dismantling Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and stopping the nuclear threat posed by the world’s foremost state sponsor of terror.

This operation sought to eliminate a longstanding but rapidly escalating source of global insecurity, and to aid our ally Israel in our inherent right of collective self-defense consistent with the UN Charter.

For 40 years, the Iranian government has called for "Death to America" and "Death to Israel" and posed a constant menace to the peace and security of its neighbors, the United States, and the entire world.

Iran has attacked Israel with hundreds of ballistic missiles and through terrorist proxies.  For decades, Iran has been responsible for misery and countless deaths across the Middle East.  Iran’s government and its proxies have also killed numerous Americans, including American service members in Iraq and Afghanistan.  In recent weeks, Iranian officials have intensified their hostile bluster and rhetoric.  Iran has long obfuscated its nuclear weapons program and stonewalled good-faith efforts in recent negotiations.

Madam President, the time finally came for the United States, in the defense of its ally and in the defense of our own citizens and interest, to act decisively.  The Iranian regime cannot have a nuclear weapon.

Let us be clear:  Iran should not escalate.  As President Trump said, any Iranian attack – direct or indirect – against Americans or American bases will be met with devastating retaliation.

To fulfill its core mission of maintaining international peace and security, this Council must call upon the Iranian regime to end its forty-seven year effort to eradicate the State of Israel, to terminate its drive for nuclear weapons, to stop targeting American citizens and interests, and to negotiate peace in good faith for the prosperity and security of the Iranian people and all other States in the region.

Madam President, a Member State here today cast aspersions about hypocrisy and raised the forthcoming meeting on UN Security Council resolution 2231.  In that regard, I would point out that the recent IAEA report on verification and monitoring of Iran’s non-compliance with obligatory nuclear safeguards shows clearly that Iran has been continuing to accelerate its nuclear activities without any credible civilian justification.  We look forward to discussing the implications of this report and its broader implications, on Tuesday, when the Secretariat briefs on the report on the implementation of UNSCR 2231.

Thank you, Madam President.