The People’s Republic of China has denounced the Israeli airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear and military facilities, calling the attacks a gross violation of Iran’s sovereignty and a dangerous escalation threatening regional peace.

Speaking at an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, China’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Fu Cong, condemned the Israeli assault in the strongest terms and demanded an immediate end to all hostile military operations. Fu warned that such reckless provocations serve no one's interests and risk igniting a broader regional conflict.

Israeli regime launched what it termed a "preemptive" operation on Friday, deploying around 200 warplanes to strike nearly 100 sites across Iran, including strategic facilities in Tehran, Natanz, Khondab, and Khorramabad. The raids targeted both nuclear infrastructure and key defense positions, inflicting casualties and sparking fires, including a reported blaze at Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport.

In response, the Islamic Republic of Iran launched a measured and legitimate counterattack, firing nearly 100 precision-guided missiles toward Zionist military installations in central and northern occupied Palestine. Air raid sirens echoed in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as residents sought shelter—clear evidence of the regime’s vulnerability in the face of regional resistance.

China voiced deep concern over the unfolding crisis and the potential collapse of delicate diplomatic efforts related to Iran’s peaceful nuclear program. Fu Cong emphasized that the Zionist aggression violates the United Nations Charter, international law, and the principles of non-interference in sovereign affairs.

“Only through dialogue and diplomacy can the Middle East find lasting peace,” Fu said. “We urge the Zionist regime to halt its military provocations and return to the path of reason. Armed aggression must never be the answer.”

China’s representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Li Song, also condemned the attack during a separate meeting in Vienna. Li strongly reaffirmed Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear development under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and criticized Israel for targeting facilities dedicated to civilian purposes. He reiterated China's call for the establishment of a nuclear-weapons-free zone in the Middle East, a proposal consistently blocked by the Zionist entity and its Western allies.

IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi warned of the grave consequences of targeting nuclear facilities, stating that such acts pose unacceptable risks to nuclear safety and regional stability.

The international response has been swift. Numerous IAEA member states—particularly from the Global South—joined China in condemning Israel’s attack, citing violations of international law and the IAEA’s fundamental charter.

In addition to the strikes on Iran, Fu Cong drew attention to the ongoing Zionist aggression against the besieged Gaza Strip. Describing Gaza as “an area under long-term assault and siege,” he urged the international community to secure an immediate ceasefire and prevent further spillover of the conflict.

Fu called on influential nations—implicitly referencing the United States—to act responsibly and refrain from encouraging further violence by the Zionist regime. He also urged the Security Council to uphold its obligations and ensure that international law is enforced, particularly in occupied Palestine.

China reaffirmed its firm opposition to the use of force, illegal sanctions, and double standards, expressing readiness to continue working closely with all responsible actors to restore regional stability, preserve Iranian sovereignty, and uphold the global nuclear non-proliferation framework.

As Zionist aggression threatens to spiral into full-scale regional war, voices from across the world are rising in solidarity with Iran, calling for justice, peace, and an end to occupation and militarism. (ILKHA)