Russia ‘strongly condemns’ Israel’s attack on Iran

The Foreign Ministry says West Jerusalem has violated the UN Charter and international law.

Russia has strongly condemned Israel’s airstrikes on Iran, warning that the operation risks triggering a dangerous escalation across the Middle East. In a statement on Friday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said the attack violated both the UN Charter and international law.

The strikes, carried out early Friday by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), reportedly targeted Iranian military and nuclear sites. Iranian media outlets said the attack killed several senior officials, including Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Hossein Salami and Deputy Chief of the Army General Staff Gholam Ali Rashid. At least six nuclear scientists were also reported among the dead.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed the operation was aimed at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

The attack comes just 48 hours before the scheduled sixth round of US-Iran nuclear talks, set to begin on Sunday in Oman.

“We strongly condemn the violent action of the State of Israel,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. “Unprovoked military strikes against a sovereign UN member state, its citizens, sleeping peaceful cities, and nuclear energy infrastructure facilities are categorically unacceptable.”

The ministry noted that the timing of the attacks – amid a session of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors and ahead of another round of nuclear talks – “adds particular cynicism” to the situation.

“The hard-won multilateral efforts to reduce confrontation and find solutions that eliminate any suspicions and prejudices regarding Iran’s peaceful nuclear energy have been undermined and set back,” it added, accusing Israel of making “a conscious choice to further escalate tensions” with the strikes.

“There have been repeated warnings about the danger of military actions that threaten stability and security in the region. Responsibility for all the consequences of this provocation will fall on the Israeli leadership,” the ministry stated.

It added that Moscow is closely monitoring the actions of the IAEA regarding the situation, noting that the agency’s staff “have also found themselves under Israeli fire,” along with Iranian citizens. Russia expects the agency to provide an assessment of the situation and analyze the potential radiological consequences of the Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

The ministry reiterated that Moscow sees no military solution to the Iranian nuclear issue, insisting that it “can only be achieved through peaceful political and diplomatic means.”

“We hope that this approach will ultimately prevail. We call on the parties to exercise restraint to prevent further escalation and a slide into full-scale war.”

Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization accused the IAEA of colluding with Israel following the attacks on the country’s nuclear infrastructure. It slammed the IAEA’s failure to condemn Israel as “a sign of the Agency’s lost credibility,” as cited by ISNA news agency.

Tehran has requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council following the airstrikes. Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei earlier warned that Israel “should expect severe punishment” for Friday’s attack.