China criticized the U.S. attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, saying it has weakened Washington’s credibility and could push the situation beyond control, according to state broadcaster reports following a U.N. Security Council meeting on Sunday.
President Donald Trump said the U.S. had “obliterated” Tehran’s key nuclear sites, joining Israel in the biggest Western military action against the Islamic Republic since its 1979 revolution.
The U.N. Security Council met on Sunday to discuss U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites as Russia, China and Pakistan proposed the 15-member body adopt a resolution calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the Middle East.
China’s U.N. Ambassador Fu Cong said parties should restrain the “impulse of force, avoid exacerbating conflicts and adding fuel to the fire,” according to the state broadcaster CCTV.
Fu said parties, especially Israel, “should immediately cease fire to prevent the situation from escalating and avoid the spillover of war.”
Iran was hurt “but the United States’ credibility was also damaged – both as a country and as a participant in any international negotiations,” Fu added.
U.S. Move Dangerous And Provocative
State media commentary late on Sunday said the U.S. move was extremely dangerous and provocative. The Global Times newspaper, in an opinion piece, said external military interference would never bring peace, and only “deepen regional hatred and trauma.”
Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, said on Monday that attacking nuclear facilities that were under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency was “a serious violation of the United Nations Charter”.
China is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with all parties to play a constructive role in restoring peace in the Middle East, Guo said at a regular press briefing.
Guo also said Chinese citizens in Iran who were willing to leave had all been evacuated to safe areas.
With the help of China’s foreign ministry, the Chinese embassy in Iran and other authorities, “3,125 Chinese citizens have been safely evacuated from Iran,” he said.
Guo added that the number included residents of Hong Kong and Taiwan. China considers democratically-governed Taiwan as its own territory.
In Israel, the Chinese embassy has organised the evacuation of more than 500 citizens from the country, Guo told the briefing.
(With inputs from Reuters)
