The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) has strongly criticised the US military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, calling the actions “senseless and reckless.”
Melissa Parke, ICAN’s executive director, condemned the US for joining Israel’s offensive against Iran, stating the move violates international law and undermines efforts to address concerns over Tehran’s nuclear programme through diplomacy.
“US intelligence assessments indicate Iran is not pursuing nuclear weapons, so this military action is both unnecessary and damaging to global non-proliferation efforts,” Parke said in a Sunday statement.
ICAN, which received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017 for its role in the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, highlighted that the US strike contradicts the treaty’s principles. While 69 countries have ratified the treaty and 25 more have signed, none of the nuclear-armed states have joined.
Parke urged the US to halt all military actions and resume diplomatic negotiations, warning that attacking nuclear sites is explicitly forbidden by international law and poses risks of radioactive contamination detrimental to people and the environment.
“The US should have supported ongoing diplomatic efforts rather than resorting to force. This escalates tensions and threatens global security,” she added.
In ICAN’s recent annual report, released on June 13—coinciding with the start of Israel’s unprovoked strikes on Iran—the organisation revealed that nuclear-armed states spent over $100 billion on their arsenals last year. The US led with $56.8 billion, followed by China at $12.5 billion, Britain at $10.4 billion, Russia at $8.1 billion, and France at $6.9 billion.
