Iran Complains to UN Nuclear Watchdog about Israeli Threats against Its Nuclear Sites

People walk through the old main bazaar of Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP)
People walk through the old main bazaar of Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP)
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Iran Complains to UN Nuclear Watchdog about Israeli Threats against Its Nuclear Sites

People walk through the old main bazaar of Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP)
People walk through the old main bazaar of Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP)

Iran has written to the UN nuclear watchdog to complain about Israeli threats to strike its atomic energy sites, its foreign ministry spokesman said at a weekly news conference on Monday.

Israel has vowed to attack Iran in retaliation for a volley of Iranian missiles on Oct. 1, stirring widespread speculation that Iranian nuclear sites could be among the targets.

"Threats to attack nuclear sites are against UN resolutions.... and are condemned ... We have sent a letter about it to ... the UN nuclear watchdog," ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told the televised news conference.

Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Israel would listen to key ally the United States regarding a response to Iran's missile attack but would decide its actions according to its own national interest.

His statement was attached to a Washington Post article which said Netanyahu had told President Joe Biden's administration that Israel would strike Iranian military targets, not nuclear or oil sites.

Baghaei, responding to a question about the possibility of Iran changing its official nuclear doctrine, said "weapons of mass destruction have no place in our policy". Tehran would decide on how and when to respond to any Israeli attack.

Iran has repeatedly denied Western accusations that it has covertly sought to develop nuclear bombs in violation of its commitment to the global Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Iran fired scores of missiles at Israel in retaliation for Israeli strikes on its allies Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip - the second Iranian missile attack on Israel this year. Israel responded to the first missile volley in April with an airstrike on an air defense site in central Iran.



US, Canada Warships Pass through Taiwan Strait

This handout photo taken on October 20, 2024 and released on October 21 by the US Navy shows the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG-76), foreground, and Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Vancouver (FFH 331), in background, sailing in the Taiwan Strait. (Trevor Hale / US Navy / AFP)
This handout photo taken on October 20, 2024 and released on October 21 by the US Navy shows the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG-76), foreground, and Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Vancouver (FFH 331), in background, sailing in the Taiwan Strait. (Trevor Hale / US Navy / AFP)
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US, Canada Warships Pass through Taiwan Strait

This handout photo taken on October 20, 2024 and released on October 21 by the US Navy shows the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG-76), foreground, and Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Vancouver (FFH 331), in background, sailing in the Taiwan Strait. (Trevor Hale / US Navy / AFP)
This handout photo taken on October 20, 2024 and released on October 21 by the US Navy shows the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG-76), foreground, and Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Vancouver (FFH 331), in background, sailing in the Taiwan Strait. (Trevor Hale / US Navy / AFP)

A US and a Canadian warship have passed through waters separating Taiwan and China, a week after Beijing held large-scale military drills in the sensitive passage.

The United States and its allies regularly cross through the 180-kilometer (112-mile) Taiwan Strait to reinforce its status as an international waterway, angering Beijing.

China's Communist Party has never ruled Taiwan, but it claims the island as part of its territory and has said it will not renounce the use of force to bring it under its control.

"The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG 76) and Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Vancouver (FFH 331) conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit on Oct. 20," the US Navy's 7th Fleet said in a statement.

"Higgins and Vancouver's transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrated the United States' and Canada's commitment to upholding freedom of navigation for all nations as a principle."

China said Monday that the US and Canadian actions had disrupted "peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait".

"The PLA Eastern Theater Command organized naval and air forces to monitor and remain on alert throughout the transit, handling the situation according to laws and regulations," military spokesperson Captain Li Xi said in a statement.

Taiwan's defense ministry said Monday the US and Canadian ships travelled "from south to north" of the strait and the situation in the surrounding sea and airspace "remained normal".

Beijing sent a record number of military aircraft as well as warships and coast guard vessels to encircle Taiwan on October 14 in the fourth round of major drills in just over two years.

Taiwan deployed "appropriate forces" and put outlying islands on heightened alert in response to the exercises, which Beijing said were a "stern warning to the separatist acts of 'Taiwan Independence' forces".

Beijing has ramped up military pressure on Taipei in recent years, deploying on a near-daily basis warplanes and other military aircraft as well as ships around the island.

Taiwan's defense ministry said Monday it had detected 14 Chinese military aircraft and 12 navy vessels in the 24 hours to 6:00 am.