Russia referred to as the US strikes on Iran ‘unjustified’ and ‘unprovoked’, whereas China warned they ‘set a foul precedent’.
Russia and China have strongly condemned US assaults on Iranian nuclear sites, warning they might drag the world right into a broader battle and set a harmful worldwide precedent.
The reactions got here simply hours earlier than Iran launched missiles on the US base in Qatar on Monday in response to Sunday’s strikes.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday described the American strikes as “unjustified” and mentioned they have been pushing the world in the direction of a dangerous tipping level.
Talking after talks with Iranian International Minister Abbas Araghchi on the Kremlin, Putin mentioned Moscow would attempt to assist the Iranian individuals however stopped wanting detailing how.
“The completely unprovoked aggression in opposition to Iran has no foundation and no justification,” Putin instructed Araghchi. “For our half, we’re making efforts to help the Iranian individuals.”
The Chinese language authorities additionally weighed in, with International Minister Wang Yi condemning each the Israeli strikes on Iran and the US bombardment of its nuclear services. He mentioned the rationale of attacking over “attainable future threats” despatched the improper sign to the world and urged a return to diplomacy.
Wang referred to as for all events to “instantly resume dialogue and negotiation”, warning the escalation risked destabilising the area.
Bringing the world ‘to a really harmful line’
Tensions have soared in current days, with US President Donald Trump and Israeli officers overtly discussing the potential of assassinating Iran’s Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and pushing for regime change – strikes the Kremlin warned might plunge the area right into a full-blown battle.
Through the high-level Kremlin assembly on Monday, Araghchi reportedly handed Putin a message from Khamenei, although the contents weren’t disclosed. A senior Iranian supply instructed the Reuters information company the letter referred to as for elevated Russian assist, however Moscow has not confirmed receiving any such attraction.
Later, whereas addressing a gathering of elite navy recruits, Putin spoke extra broadly about rising instability. “Additional-regional powers are additionally being drawn into the battle,” he mentioned. “All this brings the world to a really harmful line.”
Regardless of signing a 20-year strategic pact with Iran earlier this yr, Russia has prevented making concrete navy commitments to defend Tehran, and the settlement lacks any mutual defence clause.
Iranian frustration
Iranian officers, talking anonymously to Reuters, expressed frustration with Moscow’s perceived inaction. They mentioned Tehran felt let down by each Russia and China, regardless of repeated requires assist.
Russian Deputy International Minister Sergei Ryabkov declined to say whether or not Iran had requested for weapons or navy help however insisted Moscow’s ties with Tehran remained robust. “Our strategic partnership with Iran is unbreakable,” Ryabkov mentioned, including that Iran had each proper to defend itself.
Nonetheless, the Kremlin seems cautious of any transfer that may provoke a direct confrontation with Washington, notably as Trump seeks to ease tensions with Moscow amid the battle in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov mentioned US-Iran developments wouldn’t have an effect on the Russia-US dialogue, calling them “separate processes”.
Reminiscences of US-led wars in the Middle East nonetheless linger. At Sunday’s United Nations Safety Council session, Russia’s UN envoy Vassily Nebenzia drew comparisons with the 2003 Iraq invasion. He recalled how the US falsely claimed Iraq held weapons of mass destruction.
“Once more, we’re being requested to consider the US’s fairytales,” Nebenzia mentioned. “This cements our conviction that historical past has taught our US colleagues nothing.”
Russia, China and Pakistan have collectively submitted a decision calling for an instantaneous and unconditional ceasefire within the Center East.
