China and Russia have expressed deep concern regarding the conflict in the Middle East. Fears of further escalation have arisen after Washington launched an attack on Iran following the downing of a US helicopter. Amidst this situation, Beijing and Moscow have called on all parties to avoid escalating tensions. Online Dawn reported this, citing various news agencies. During a regular press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that all relevant parties should remain calm and exercise restraint.
Parties must refrain from intensifying the conflict or allowing the situation to deteriorate further. Pragmatic steps must be taken to de-escalate tensions and stabilize the situation. Meanwhile, Russia has urged both sides to show restraint following a new round of tit-for-tat attacks between the US and Iran. This marks the most severe escalation of tension between the two nations since the ceasefire of April 8.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told reporters, “We are extremely concerned about the renewed armed clashes between the US and Iran. This conflict was ignited by unprovoked US-Israeli aggression against Iran.” She added, “We call on both sides to exercise restraint and immediately halt military attacks.”
On the other hand, Iran’s Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the US military strikes in southern Iran. According to Al Jazeera, Tehran described the overnight attacks as a clear violation of international law. In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said that in the early hours of Wednesday, the US administration launched brutal attacks on various areas in the country’s south. It further stated that these attacks constitute a clear violation of the UN Charter—specifically Article 2(4)—and contravene the fundamental principle prohibiting the use of force in international relations. Iran asserts that it possesses the right to self-defense under international law and took counter-measures based on that right.
Al Jazeera reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held separate telephone conversations overnight with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Turkey. This information was released citing Iran’s state news agency, IRNA. According to reports, they discussed the latest situation in the Middle East following the US strikes in southern Iran. During the telephone conversation, Araghchi strongly condemned the US military aggression and the violation of Iran’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity. He further emphasized that exercising the right to legitimate self-defense is an inherent right of Iran, and it was in the exercise of this right that Iran’s armed forces launched counter-attacks against the aggressors.
