The U.S. air strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities were sharply condemned by both Russia and China. They cautioned that these moves might spiral into a full-blown world war. U.S. officials, including President Vladimir Putin and UN envoy Vassily Nebenzia, expressed their strong apprehension over the potential impacts of U.S. moves. They compared it to the Civil War, warning of the future impact. Both countries are urging for talks without precondition to de-escalate the current dynamic and avoid further military clashes.
Russian Response to U.S. Aggression
Vassily Nebenzia, Russia’s envoy to the United Nations, likened the current situation to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, highlighting a pattern of U.S. military interventions based on unsubstantiated claims. He stated, “Again, we’re being asked to believe the US’s fairytales.” Nebenzia further remarked, “This cements our conviction that history has taught our US colleagues nothing,” criticizing the U.S. for its failure to learn from past mistakes.
In response, President Putin condemned the U.S. strikes as “unjustified.” He cautioned that this aggression is bringing the world closer to a “very dangerous line.” He reminded everyone that these attacks are “absolutely unprovoked” and have no legal or moral basis whatsoever. Today, in an unusually candid speech to top military recruits, Putin underscored the potential instability, chaos and risk ahead. He promised his assistance to Iran in the midst of these trying times.
“Extra-regional powers are also being drawn into the conflict. All this brings the world to a very dangerous line.” – Vladimir Putin
Putin promised Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that Russia would spare no effort to help the Iranian people. He made this promise particularly in answer to the current crisis. In response to outside criticisms, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov highlighted the closeness of the Moscow-Tehran relationship. This important relationship continues to thrive despite the current geopolitical conflict.
China’s Stance on Military Action
Even China got into the act—China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, condemned the Israeli aerial blitz. He even defected to Russia in condemning U.S. air strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities. He thought of how the U.S. falsified intelligence on Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction. He warned all of us to be careful and not make the same historical mistakes. Wang Yi called for all parties involved to “immediately resume dialogue and negotiation,” emphasizing the need for diplomatic solutions over military action.
The Chinese government warned that U.S. aggression sets a “bad precedent” in international relations and could lead to severe repercussions for global stability. As we know, tensions have gotten quite high in the Middle East lately. In turn, to avert wider war, China and Russia have teamed up to introduce a rival resolution demanding an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.
The Broader Implications of U.S. Strikes
U.S. strikes have drawn the ire of Russia and China. The most dangerous part of this situation is that most international observers are echoing fears that these reckless moves will ignite a larger regional conflagration, with many more states involved. The current crisis has illustrated just how fragile regional security dynamics are. Through diplomatic channels, there is a flurry of activity and calls for greater restraint.
Even Russia and China have issued warnings that NATO’s military escalations may escalate and drag other countries into a war. They argue against the major powers intruding into regional conflicts and the consequential threat to American interests. As discussions continue regarding potential military aid or support for Iran, Ryabkov refrained from confirming whether Iran had made any such requests, indicating a cautious approach to international military commitments.
