Russia condemns Israeli strikes on Iran as ‘unprovoked’ and ‘unacceptable’

Russia’s Foreign Ministry has condemned Israel’s overnight airstrikes on Iran as “unprovoked” and “unacceptable”, and called for both sides to act with restraint in order to prevent the further escalation of tensions in the Middle East in a statement published on Friday.

Israel’s attacks, which struck a number of cities across Iran on Friday and have been condemned by Tehran as a “declaration of war”, reportedly killed a number of senior Iranian military figures and nuclear scientists, including three of the country’s top generals.

The Russian Foreign Ministry condemned Israel for “clearly violating” the UN Charter as well as “established principles of international law”, and stressed the need for nuclear energy facilities to be protected.

“Unprovoked military strikes against a sovereign member state of the United Nations, against its citizens, peaceful cities, and critical nuclear energy infrastructure facilities, are totally unacceptable,” the statement read.

The Foreign Ministry particularly noted its concern that the strikes were carried out during a session of the IAEA Board of Governors and on the eve of negotiations between Iran and the United States, which could have reduced tensions around the Iranian nuclear program.

It also criticised Western countries for recently provoking a “wave of anti-Iran hysteria” and called on them to realise the “dangerous consequences of their destructive approach”, as well as the extent of “responsibility they bear for the unfolding tragedy”.

“The international community must not ignore such acts, which not only jeopardise peace but also undermine security both in the region and globally,” it said.