Russia, China, and a host of other nations rallied to condemn attacks on Iran at the United Nations in the hopes of preventing further escalation and possible U.S. action.
Regional tensions soared this week as Israel launched strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites, prompting retaliatory attacks and international condemnation.
Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed Moscow’s support for Iran’s peaceful nuclear programme, telling Sky News Arabia that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has found no evidence that Tehran is seeking nuclear weapons.
“We believe Iran has the right to use nuclear energy peacefully, and we are ready to help,” Putin said.
He added that Moscow had repeatedly warned Israeli leaders that Tehran is not pursuing nuclear arms.
Putin additionally praised Iran’s religious fatwa against such weapons as “important” and urged dialogue over conflict.
The spiritual leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, famously issued a religious decree in 2003 declaring that nuclear weapons are forbidden under Islamic law.
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Meanwhile, nations across Asia rushed to evacuate citizens from Iran and Israel. China, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines launched repatriation efforts, whilst Australia suspended embassy operations in Tehran.
Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong advised Australians to leave Iran if safe and said consular staff were deployed to Azerbaijan to help with evacuations.
The conflict erupted on 13 June when Israel struck Iranian military and nuclear facilities.
Iran responded with missile attacks, killing at least 25 people in Israel, according to Israeli authorities.
Iranian media reported over 639 deaths and more than 1,300 injuries from Israeli strikes.
At the United Nations, Russia, China, Pakistan, and Algeria led condemnation of Israel’s attacks during a Security Council session. Russian envoy Vassily Nebenzia said Israeli raids on nuclear facilities risk “an unseen nuclear catastrophe” and violate international law. He urged the Council to act, warning that failure could set a dangerous precedent.
China echoed the concerns, saying Israel’s actions violated international norms and endangered regional peace.
Pakistan called the attacks “unjustified and illegitimate,” while Algeria labelled them a “flagrant violation” of UN principles.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the conflict is “racing towards a crisis” with devastating consequences. “This is such a moment,” he said. “The confrontation between Israel and Iran is escalating rapidly with a terrible toll—killing and injuring civilians, devastating homes, and attacking nuclear facilities.”
Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, told reporters his country is working to minimise civilian casualties but insisted military sites will remain targets.
The conflict also raised fears of global energy instability. China, which imports nearly half its oil through the Strait of Hormuz, faces significant risk if Iran follows through on threats to block the key maritime route.
The International Energy Agency warned that any disruption could spike oil prices worldwide.
China is Iran’s biggest oil buyer, importing crude via a so-called “shadow fleet” of tankers that evade sanctions. While Iranian oil is heavily discounted, analysts note profit margins have shrunk significantly.
Much of this oil is paid for in Chinese yuan, limiting Iran’s global purchasing power.
As international calls for de-escalation grow, the prospect of wider regional war looms. With nuclear facilities under threat, civilian death tolls rising, and global energy supplies at risk, world leaders face mounting pressure to intervene diplomatically before the situation spirals further.
However, the comments of support to Iran by China and Russia will complicate matters as any major regime change or collapsing of the state in Iran will open the doors to Russia and China to enter the conflict.
