Russia known as the US strikes on Iran ‘unjustified’ and ‘unprovoked’, whereas China warned they ‘set a nasty precedent’.
Russia and China have strongly condemned US assaults on Iranian nuclear sites, warning they may drag the world right into a broader warfare 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 folks however stopped in need of detailing how.
“The completely unprovoked aggression in opposition to Iran has no foundation and no justification,” Putin informed Araghchi. “For our half, we’re making efforts to help the Iranian folks.”
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 amenities. He mentioned the rationale of attacking over “doable future threats” despatched the improper sign to the world and urged a return to diplomacy.
Wang known 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 latest days, with US President Donald Trump and Israeli officers brazenly discussing the opportunity of assassinating Iran’s Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and pushing for regime change – strikes the Kremlin warned may plunge the area right into a full-blown warfare.
Throughout 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 informed the Reuters information company the letter known as for elevated Russian assist, however Moscow has not confirmed receiving any such attraction.
Later, whereas addressing a gathering of elite army recruits, Putin spoke extra broadly about rising instability. “Further-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 12 months, Russia has prevented making concrete army 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 army assist 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 which may provoke a direct confrontation with Washington, significantly as Trump seeks to ease tensions with Moscow amid the warfare 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 imagine 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 a direct and unconditional ceasefire within the Center East.
