Thank you, Madam President,

I would like to thank the Secretary-General for his sincere statement. I also thank USG DiCarlo and Director-General Grossi for their briefings.

Türkiye condemns, in the strongest terms, the recent attacks conducted by Israel against Iran.

These strikes constitute a manifest violation of the UN Charter, in particular the fundamental obligation on all Member States to refrain from the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State.

We view the rapid escalation now unfolding across the Middle East with profound concern. Hundreds of lives have already been lost, and the risk for further bloodshed is alarming.

Moreover, a wider regional collision would aggravate the risk of nuclear or radiological spillover and mass displacement, disrupt global trade and transportation routes, and imperil energy security at a moment of acute volatility.

As a neighbour of Iran, Türkiye reiterates the imperative of de-escalation leading to an immediate ceasefire and a return to diplomacy. In that regard, we fully support the Secretary-General’s call for maximum restraint and stand ready to assist all efforts aimed at halting the violence.

Madam President,

Israel’s deliberate strikes against safeguarded nuclear facilities in Iran are unprecedented. They contravene international law, the Statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency, relevant IAEA resolutions, and a Security Council resolution. These attacks must immediately stop.

By targeting such installations, Israel has consciously placed nuclear safety and security at grave risk, with possible radiological dispersion that would endanger human health, biodiversity and environment far beyond Iran’s borders for decades to come.

The IAEA’s verification activities inside Iran have already been impeded.

It is deeply troubling that a non-NPT State, which maintains deliberate opacity regarding its own nuclear capabilities, is attacking the nuclear infrastructure of an NPT State under safeguards. This recklessness strikes at the heart of the global non-proliferation regime, compelling all of us to reflect upon its wider repercussions.

The international community must therefore unite in urging Israel to accede to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons as a non-nuclear-weapon State and to accept robust IAEA verification.

At the same time, concerns regarding aspects of Iran’s nuclear programme should be resolved through dialogue and strengthened cooperation between Iran and the Agency.

Türkiye has consistently underscored that a diplomatic process remains the only viable route to settle the nuclear dispute and has supported and facilitated efforts toward that end.

We continue to believe that diplomacy is the sole sensible path forward, and we call on all actors in a position to do so to exert their utmost efforts in this direction.

Madam President,

Beyond the immediate nuclear risks, the security ramifications of this conflict are extensive.

Energy security—which is inseparable from national security—is now under severe threat. Strikes in one of the world’s most sensitive regions for the oil trade risk supply shortages and extreme price volatility, while the resulting uncertainties undermine long-term investments in vital energy infrastructure.

Hostilities have already disrupted sustainable transport, pushing up container and shipping costs and straining global supply chains. The destruction of urban areas and the natural environment further threatens biodiversity and jeopardises regional and global sustainable-development objectives.

Madam President,

We must not allow the crisis in Gaza to fade from the international agenda in the shadow of these latest events. Israel’s assault on Iran cannot obscure the ongoing crimes being committed against the Palestinian people.

Indeed, Israel’s continued occupation of Palestinian territory remains the root cause of many conflicts across the region. A just, lasting and comprehensive peace is attainable only through the recognition of an independent, sovereign and contiguous State of Palestine within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The international community must therefore press with urgency for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza and Iran alike and redouble efforts to implement the two-State solution.

Imposing peace on Israel is no longer a mere option; it is an imperative to preserve the credibility of the UN system and to safeguard international law. Failure to do so will only fuel a vicious cycle of violence and war.

Madam President,

This Council must act collectively and decisively to prevent further escalation.

The risk of wider conflict, forced displacement on a massive scale and irreversible environmental harm demands our immediate attention.

Türkiye stands ready to contribute constructively toward any initiative that will de-escalate tension, restore the ceasefire and relaunch credible, meaningful diplomacy.

Let us seize this moment to reaffirm our shared commitment to the UN Charter, to the global non-proliferation regime and to the principles of peaceful dispute settlement.

Only by resolute adherence to these norms can we hope to avert catastrophic consequences for the Middle East, for the international community and for next generations.

I thank you.