Iran to give strongest response to any fresh attacks, Pezeshkian tells NBC

European powers "offered a lot of opportunities to come to a new negotiated solution, but they (Iran) didn’t use that space,” German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told Bloomberg TV.

“The sanctions will be imposed," he was quoted as saying.

However, he added, there would always be space for diplomacy.

100%

Iran's foreign ministry on Friday accused the United States of stigmatizing and threatening Iran over its nuclear program even though the country's "sole pursuit is the peaceful use of nuclear technology."

"The very actors that maintain vast stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction choose, instead of fulfilling their disarmament obligations, to carry out acts of sabotage and attack against our peaceful facilities," it said.

"Iran reaffirms its inalienable right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy and calls upon the world to stand firm against such duplicity & double standards," Iran's foreign ministry said in a post on its X account.

Richard Nephew, a former US negotiator in past Iran nuclear talks, commented on a report by London-based Amwaj Media that said Iran had offered to allow immediate UN inspections at its Natanz nuclear facility in exchange for European support of a Russian-drafted resolution to delay the return of sanctions later today.

“No deal. First, this isn’t the only access required. Second, the CSA applies to all safeguarded material, not just Natanz. Third, accepting the conditioning of CSA obligations in general is a mistake,” Nephew said in response to the reported offer.

“Iran signed the safeguards agreement. It should fulfill it.”

Netanyahu described Iran's pre-war nuclear efforts as an existential threat to Israel and a mortal danger to the world, aimed at destruction and global blackmail.

"Iran was rapidly developing a massive nuclear weapons program and a massive ballistic missile program," he told the UN General Assembly. "We devastated Iran's atomic weapons and ballistic missiles programs."

Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran in June, targeting nuclear and military sites and top military and nuclear officials. Iran retaliated by firing drones and ballistic missiles.

Iran reported over 1,000 fatalities and 5,332 injured while Tehran's counterattacks killed 31 Israeli civilians and an off-duty soldier.

The United States on June 22 joined the campaign, targeting nuclear sites in Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan. Two days later, US President Donald Trump brokered a ceasefire between Iran and Israel.

"President Trump and I delivered on our promise to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons,” Netanyahu said, praising the US president for "his bold and decisive action".

"We must not allow Iran to rebuild its military nuclear capacities. Iran's stockpiles of enriched uranium must be eliminated, and UN Security Council sanctions on Iran must be snapped back,” Netanyahu said.

The United Kingdom, France and Germany have activated the snapback mechanism under the UN Security Council Resolution, meaning the UN sanctions will go back into effect on September 28 unless the Security Council takes action by tomorrow.

Israel not done yet

Netanyahu said that "Israel rebounded from its darkest day to deliver one of the most stunning military comebacks in history, but we're not done yet."

He called Iran the core of a terror axis, backing proxies like Hamas, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Houthis in Yemen, who "shout Death to America" and murder innocents.

In what he called a "pop quiz" for the delegates, Netanyahu asked: "Who shouts ‘Death to America?" and "Who has murdered Americans and Europeans in cold blood?” He said the answer was Iran and its allied forces.

Netanyahu spoked and envisioned a future where Iranian people overthrow the government in Iran, restoring ancient ties with Israel for global benefit.

The Israeli prime minister has in recent years repeatedly addressed the Iranian public through video messages, urging them to rise up against the Islamic Republic and reject their leaders.

In these messages, Benjamin Netanyahu has often portrayed Israel as a friend of the Iranian people while condemning Iran’s government for its nuclear program, regional policies, and human rights record.

Iran's foreign minister on Friday urged members of the UN Security Council to "say No to confrontation and Yes to cooperation" by voting for a draft resolution that delays the snapback of Iran sanctions later today.

"In past days and weeks, Iran has put forward multiple proposals to keep the window for diplomacy open. The E3 has failed to reciprocate while the US has doubled down on its dictates," Abbas Araghchi said.

"In the face of this apparent E3-US policy of escalation, Iran urges Council members to act responsibly and stand on the right side of history by supporting diplomacy, justice and international law."