China has said that the United States’ attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities has damaged Washington's credibility and warned that the situation “may go out of control,” according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. The remarks came after an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Sunday.
President Donald Trump claimed the US had “obliterated” key nuclear sites in Tehran, joining Israel in the largest Western military action against the Islamic Republic since its 1979 revolution.
The UN Security Council convened on Sunday to discuss the strikes, as Russia, China and Pakistan jointly proposed a resolution urging an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the Middle East.
China’s ambassador to the UN, Fu Cong, called on all parties to restrain the "impulse of force" and avoid further escalation.
“All parties, especially Israel, should immediately cease fire to prevent the situation from escalating and to avoid the spillover of war,” Fu said. He added that while Iran was hurt, “the United States’ credibility was also damaged — both as a country and as a participant in any international negotiations.”
In a commentary late on Sunday, Chinese state media described the U.S. action as “extremely dangerous and provocative.” The Global Times said in an opinion piece that external military interference would not bring peace and would only “deepen regional hatred and trauma.”
China’s embassy in Tehran also said on Sunday that most Chinese nationals in Iran had been evacuated safely and those remaining were not in high-risk areas.