Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei addresses a press conference in Tehran, Iran, on October 21, 2024. — Reuters

Iran has formally notified the UN nuclear watchdog about Israeli threats to target its atomic energy facilities, according to the country's foreign ministry spokesman, who spoke at a weekly news briefing on Monday. Israel has pledged to retaliate against Iran following a barrage of Iranian missiles on October 1, sparking concerns that Iranian nuclear sites might be in the crosshairs.

"Threats to attack nuclear sites contravene UN resolutions... and are unequivocally condemned... We have conveyed a letter on this matter to the UN nuclear watchdog," ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stated during the televised news conference. Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office indicated that Israel would heed the advice of its key ally, the United States, regarding a response to Iran's missile attack but would ultimately act in accordance with its own national interests.

Netanyahu's remarks were made in conjunction with a Washington Post article, which reported that Netanyahu had informed President Joe Biden's administration that Israel would target Iranian military installations, not nuclear or oil sites. Baghaei, responding to a query about the potential for Iran to alter its official nuclear doctrine, asserted that "weapons of mass destruction have no role in our policy". Tehran will determine the timing and manner of its response to any Israeli aggression.

Iran has consistently refuted Western allegations that it has secretly pursued the development of nuclear weapons in breach of its obligations under the global Non-Proliferation Treaty. Additionally, Baghaei announced that Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi would be traveling to Bahrain and Kuwait on Monday as part of Iran's efforts to ease regional tensions.

Iran launched a series of missiles at Israel in response to Israeli strikes against its allies Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip—marking the second such Iranian missile attack on Israel this year. Israel retaliated to the initial missile volley in April with an airstrike on an air defense facility in central Iran.

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