This picture shows a building damaged in an Israeli strike on Tehran on June 13, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
China and Russia have strongly condemned Israel’s aggression against Iran, calling it a violation of the Islamic Republic’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Chinese and Russian foreign ministers made the remarks in separate phone calls with their Iranian counterpart, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, on Saturday, a day after Israel started a series of unprovoked airstrikes on Iran.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi described Israel’s attacks on nuclear facilities as “a dangerous act” that violates all international standards.
He went on to say that Beijing has condemned the aggression at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and called on the UN Security Council to stop the war.
He further stressed the need to reduce tensions in West Asia to prevent it from becoming a full-fledged war, while pointing out that Iran has always emphasized that its nuclear program is exclusively for peaceful purposes.
Araghchi, for his part, appreciated China’s stance in condemning the Israeli regime's attack on Iran, warning that the aggression would lead the region to “a dangerous cycle of violence.”
He also noted that this attack constitutes a clear violation of international law, calling on the international community to “act decisively” and explicitly condemn the aggression.
The Iranian foreign minister further emphasized Iran's right to legitimate defense against Israel’s aggression, stressing that the Islamic Republic will firmly respond to the brutal Israeli attacks.
"In order to protect its national sovereignty, the people and security, Iran has firmly responded to the aggression of the Zionist regime and is determined to use its legitimate right to reciprocal action," he said.
Araghchi also called for Israel to be held accountable, while criticizing the recent resolution of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)’s Board of Governors against Iran's peaceful nuclear program as an excuse for the hostile actions of the Israeli regime against the country’s nuclear facilities.
In his phone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Araghchi appreciated Russia’s stance in condemning the Israeli aggression.
The foreign minister said the strike was another sign of the regime’s inherent hostility to diplomacy.
The Israeli regime launched an attack against Iran early on Friday, targeting the top military brass and multiple military, nuclear, and civilian sites across Tehran and other cities.
Iran’s air defenses have successfully intercepted a majority of small UAVs launched by Israel in the past 24 hours, with reports suggesting that only a handful of them have passed through the defenses.
Iran has carried out hundreds of missile and UAV attacks on Israel since late Friday, inflicting heavy damage on the regime.
