Russia’s Foreign Ministry has stated that Israel’s attacks on Iran are illegal under international law.
Russia specifically cited violations of the UN Charter and the sovereignty of a UN member state.
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They condemned the strikes as unprovoked and targeting Iran’s peaceful nuclear sites, arguing that such actions threaten international security and risk pushing the region toward a nuclear catastrophe.
Russia emphasized Iran’s commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and advocated for diplomacy as the only solution to the conflict over Iran’s nuclear program.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov and President Vladimir Putin have also expressed concerns about the escalation, with Putin offering to mediate between Israel and Iran.
However, political commentators argued that Moscow’s own actions, including its invasion of Ukraine, undermine its moral authority to critique violations of international law.
The argument continued that Russia’s call for diplomacy may partly reflect its desire to maintain influence in the Middle East and avoid losing Iran as a key ally.
Israel on the other hand justify its strikes as preventive self-defense, claiming they targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities, ballistic missile sites, and military leadership to thwart an imminent nuclear threat.
However, without any real public evidence of an imminent Iranian attack, many consider Israel’s actions a violation of international law, potentially constituting the crime of aggression.