'Never Again': Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian Invokes Atomic Bombings Of Hiroshima & Nagasaki To Slam US

Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday, August 7, invoked the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, accusing the United States of continuing to display the same “mentality” that he said threatens nations and civilian infrastructure.

Taking to his official handle on X, Pezeshkian wrote, “On this anniversary of the US atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki-among greatest crimes against humanity-those who reject that horror must also condemn the same mentality in Washington that today threatens to wipe out nations and destroy civilian infrastructure. Never again.”

Pezeshkian’s remarks came a day after the world marked the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and two days before the anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki.

Hiroshima & Nagasaki: The 1945 Atomic Bombings

On August 6, 1945, during the closing stages of World War II, the United States dropped an atomic bomb codenamed “Little Boy” on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Carried by the B-29 bomber Enola Gay, the bomb exploded at around 8:15 a.m., devastating much of the city and killing an estimated 80,000 people instantly. Thousands more later succumbed to severe injuries and radiation exposure.

Three days later, on August 9, the US carried out a second atomic strike, dropping the “Fat Man” bomb on Nagasaki. The B-29 Bockscar was initially headed for Kokura, its primary target, but poor visibility forced the crew to change course for Nagasaki. The plutonium bomb was detonated over the city at around 11:02 a.m.

The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki remain the only instances in history where nuclear weapons have been used in warfare. The death toll remains difficult to determine precisely due to the scale of destruction and the long-term effects of radiation. Estimates suggest that around 70,000 to 135,000 people died in Hiroshima, while Nagasaki recorded approximately 60,000 to 80,000 deaths, including those who later died from injuries and radiation-related effects.