Russia, China, Pakistan, Algeria condemn Israeli attacks on Iran at UN Security Council
Envoys demand international law be upheld, warn of nuclear catastrophe
HAMILTON, Canada
UN Security Council members, including China, Pakistan, Russia and Algeria, on Friday condemned Israeli attacks on Iran, warning that it threatens regional peace and risk setting a dangerous precedent by targeting nuclear facilities.
Speaking at the emergency session on Iran, which was requested by China, Pakistan, Russia and Algeria, Russian envoy Vassily Nebenzia denounced the attacks and said: "The Iranian, peaceful civilian nuclear facilities continue to be targeted, and this is liable to plunge us into an unseen nuclear catastrophe."
He warned that the Security Council "cannot shirk its responsibility" and must assess the situation objectively.
"Nuclear facilities cannot be targeted by strikes," he added, and demanded that "West Jerusalem immediately cease attacks and raids on Iran."
Nebenzia criticized the West for enabling Israeli aggression, stating that rhetoric from British, French and German diplomats "is just as dangerous as the deadliest weaponry."
"Russia views the ongoing, intense Israeli attacks targeting civilian objects in Iran as completely unacceptable and unlawful under international law," he said.
Chinese envoy Fu Cong said that Israel's actions "violate international law and the norms of international relations, jeopardize the sovereignty and security of Iran, and undermine regional peace and stability."
He said the attacks "set a dangerous precedent and could have catastrophic consequences," and urged the Council to "play a greater role" in preserving peace and stability.
Pakistan "strongly condemns the unjustified and illegitimate aggression by Israel.”
Envoy Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said Islamabad “unequivocally denounce the blatant attacks and military strikes carried out by Israel, which constitute a grave danger and a serious threat to the peace, security, and stability of the entire region and beyond.”
The Pakistani envoy also expressed concern over Israel's strikes on nuclear facilities and cited the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip as evidence of broader destabilizing actions by Israel.
Algeria's UN envoy Amar Bendjama described Israeli strikes as "an unprovoked and unjustified act" and "a flagrant violation of the Charter of the United Nations."
He warned against Israel's efforts justifying "an act of aggression against a sovereign member state," and linked the aggression to broader violations in Gaza.
"Those responsible for the collapse of the health system in Gaza … cannot credibly claim to be upholding international humanitarian law," he said.
UK envoy Barbara Woodward also emphasized that "military action cannot put an end to Iran's nuclear capabilities," urging a return to diplomacy as "the only way to resolve the nuclear issue for the long term.”
