China and the United States were at loggerheads in an emergency UN Security Council meeting called a day after the United States launched strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, a move that marked a major escalation in the Israel-Iran air war.
“We call for an immediate ceasefire and end to the hostilities in the context of the abrupt escalation of tensions in the Middle East,” said Fu Cong, China’s ambassador to the UN. “We call for effective protection of civilians. The ultimate victims of all conflicts are the innocent people.”
While there was agreement on the broad need for peace and regional stability, statements quickly divided along geopolitical lines, with China and Russia defending Iran and condemning the United States and Israel even as the US and allies justify the attack on Iranian nuclear facilities as existential and necessasry.
“For 40 years, the Iranian government has called for death to America and death to Israel, and posed a constant menace to the peace and security of its neighbors, the United States and the entire world,” said Dorothy Shea, US ambassador to the UN.
“The time finally came for the United States in the defense of its ally and in the defense of our own citizens and interest to act decisively,” she added, warning Iran will face “devastating retaliation” if it attacks US soldiers or bases in the region.
Israel and Iran have exchanged wave after wave of devastating and deadly strikes since Israel launched its aerial campaign on June 13, saying Tehran was on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon.
Iran denies it is seeking nuclear weapons and says its programme is for peaceful purposes only.
Follow live updates as the world reacts to this critical development in the Middle East.
More from our coverage:
– China condemns US strikes on Iran, calls for ceasefire and talks
– As US enters Israel-Iran conflict, are China’s Middle East interests at risk?
– Mideast distractions won’t shift US’ long-term focus on China: analysts
Reporting by Khushboo Razdan, Ziwen Zhao, Mark Magnier and Robert Delaney