(TJV NEWS) Russia has sharply condemned the overnight US-Israeli strikes on Iran, labeling the operation a “preplanned and unprovoked act of armed aggression” against a sovereign United Nations member state and demanding an immediate halt to military action, according to statements cited by The Associated Press.

In a message published on Telegram, Russia’s Foreign Ministry accused Washington and Tel Aviv of using concerns about Iran’s nuclear program as a pretext for a broader push toward regime change. Moscow said the assault violated international law and risked destabilizing the entire Middle East.

The ministry warned the attacks could spark an “Iraq-style catastrophe” and trigger a dangerous domino effect across the region. It cautioned that continued escalation might unleash long-term terrorism, humanitarian disaster and economic upheaval, and even pose potential radiological risks. Russia further charged that the United States and Israel were “plunging the Middle East into an abyss of uncontrolled escalation.”

Russian officials suggested that diplomacy — not airstrikes — should have been allowed to proceed.

While the rhetoric from Moscow was forceful, analysts note that the Kremlin is unlikely to intervene directly on Iran’s behalf, as Zero Hedge analysis pointed out.

Russia is attempting to carefully manage its broader geopolitical posture, particularly as it remains deeply engaged in the war in Ukraine and seeks to stabilize strained channels with Washington.

Ukraine, for its part, voiced support for the US strikes on Iran. Kyiv’s position reflects longstanding tensions with Tehran, which has supplied Moscow with drones used extensively in attacks on Ukrainian cities during the conflict in Eastern Europe.

China also condemned the strikes, though in more measured language than Russia. In a statement posted on X by its foreign ministry, Beijing called for an immediate cessation of military activity and urged a return to negotiations to prevent further escalation, Zero Hedge reported.

China emphasized the importance of preserving regional stability and avoiding a widening conflict.

Several other countries aligned with the BRICS bloc are expected to criticize the US-Israeli action. European powers, meanwhile, have largely avoided directly addressing the legality of the strikes themselves, focusing instead on condemning Iran’s retaliatory actions.

In a joint statement, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer denounced Iranian attacks on US and Israeli assets in the region and urged Tehran to halt further military responses.

As the situation continues to unfold, Russia has reiterated its call for an immediate end to hostilities and a return to diplomacy, warning that failure to de-escalate could have far-reaching and unpredictable consequences well beyond Iran’s borders.