Moscow has denounced Israel’s military operation against Iran as a violation of international law, warning it could push the Middle East toward a broader conflict.
In a strongly worded statement on Friday, the Russian Foreign Ministry accused Israel of breaching the UN Charter by launching unprovoked airstrikes on Iranian soil. The attack, which targeted military and nuclear facilities, reportedly killed several high-ranking officials, including IRGC commander Hossein Salami and Deputy Army Chief Gholam Ali Rashid, along with at least six nuclear scientists.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the operation as a necessary measure to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons—a claim Tehran has long denied, insisting its nuclear program is peaceful.
Timing Raises Suspicions
The strikes occurred just two days before the next round of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks in Oman, a timing Russia called “particularly cynical.” The Foreign Ministry noted the attack coincided with an IAEA Board of Governors meeting, further complicating diplomatic efforts.
“The hard-won progress in multilateral negotiations has been undermined,” the statement read, accusing Israel of deliberately escalating tensions. “Responsibility for the consequences lies entirely with the Israeli leadership.”
IAEA Under Scrutiny
Russia urged the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to assess potential radiological risks from the strikes, pointing out that agency personnel were also endangered. Meanwhile, Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization accused the IAEA of collusion with Israel, calling its silence “a blow to its credibility.”
Diplomatic Fallout
Tehran has called for an emergency UN Security Council meeting, while Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei vowed severe retaliation. Moscow, however, reiterated that no military solution exists for the Iranian nuclear issue, stressing that only diplomacy can resolve the crisis.
“We urge all parties to exercise restraint,” the Russian statement concluded, “to prevent a catastrophic regional war.”