Russia called the US strikes on Iran \u2018unjustified\u2019 and \u2018unprovoked\u2019, while China warned they \u2018set a bad precedent\u2019.<\/p>\n
Russia and China have strongly condemned US attacks on Iranian nuclear sites<\/a>, warning they could drag the world into a broader war and set a dangerous international precedent.<\/p>\n The reactions came just hours before Iran launched missiles at the US base in Qatar on Monday in response to Sunday\u2019s strikes.<\/p>\n Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday described the American strikes as \u201cunjustified\u201d and said they were pushing the world towards a perilous tipping point.<\/p>\n Speaking after talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi at the Kremlin, Putin said Moscow would try to help the Iranian people but stopped short of detailing how.<\/p>\n \u201cThe absolutely unprovoked aggression against Iran has no basis and no justification,\u201d Putin told Araghchi. \u201cFor our part, we are making efforts to assist the Iranian people.\u201d<\/p>\n The Chinese government also weighed in, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi condemning both the Israeli strikes on Iran and the US bombardment of its nuclear facilities. He said the rationale of attacking over \u201cpossible future threats\u201d sent the wrong signal to the world and urged a return to diplomacy.<\/p>\n Wang called for all parties to \u201cimmediately resume dialogue and negotiation\u201d, warning the escalation risked destabilising the region.<\/p>\n Bringing the world \u2018to a very dangerous line\u2019<\/p>\n Tensions have soared in recent days, with US President Donald Trump and Israeli officials openly discussing the possibility of assassinating Iran\u2019s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and pushing for regime change \u2013 moves the Kremlin warned could plunge the region into a full-blown war.<\/p>\n During the high-level Kremlin meeting on Monday, Araghchi reportedly handed Putin a message from Khamenei, though the contents were not disclosed. A senior Iranian source told the Reuters news agency the letter called for increased Russian support, but Moscow has not confirmed receiving any such appeal.<\/p>\n Later, while addressing a gathering of elite military recruits, Putin spoke more broadly about growing instability. \u201cExtra-regional powers are also being drawn into the conflict,\u201d he said. \u201cAll this brings the world to a very dangerous line.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite signing a 20-year strategic pact with Iran earlier this year, Russia has avoided making concrete military commitments to defend Tehran, and the agreement lacks any mutual defence clause.<\/p>\n Iranian frustration<\/p>\n Iranian officials, speaking anonymously to Reuters, expressed frustration with Moscow\u2019s perceived inaction. They said Tehran felt let down by both Russia and China, despite repeated calls for support.<\/p>\n Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov declined to say whether Iran had asked for weapons or military aid but insisted Moscow\u2019s ties with Tehran remained strong. \u201cOur strategic partnership with Iran is unbreakable,\u201d Ryabkov said, adding that Iran had every right to defend itself.<\/p>\n Still, the Kremlin appears wary of any move that might provoke a direct confrontation with Washington, particularly as Trump seeks to ease tensions with Moscow amid the war in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said US-Iran developments would not affect the Russia-US dialogue, calling them \u201cseparate processes\u201d.<\/p>\n Memories of US-led wars in the Middle East<\/a> still linger. At Sunday\u2019s United Nations Security Council session, Russia\u2019s UN envoy Vassily Nebenzia drew comparisons with the 2003 Iraq invasion<\/a>. He recalled how the US falsely claimed Iraq held weapons of mass destruction.<\/p>\n \u201cAgain, we\u2019re being asked to believe the US\u2019s fairytales,\u201d Nebenzia said. \u201cThis cements our conviction that history has taught our US colleagues nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n