Russia calls for ending ‘illegal’ strikes on Iran

Russia has issued a sharp rebuke to Israel, demanding an immediate halt to what it calls “illegal attacks” on Iran’s nuclear facilities, reports CNN.

In a statement released Tuesday (June 17), the Russian Foreign Ministry warned that the strikes violate international law and could trigger a broader nuclear crisis.

“Israel's continuous and intense attacks on Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities are illegal under international law,” the statement read. “These attacks pose a serious threat to international security and are pushing the world toward a nuclear catastrophe — one that will have dire consequences for Israel and the entire global community.”

The Kremlin also accused unnamed Western nations of exploiting the escalating tensions to settle political scores. “Some Western countries are demonstrating opportunistic behavior amid this crisis,” the ministry added, without naming specific states.

Russia’s call for restraint included a direct appeal to the Israeli government. “We urge the Israeli leadership to immediately stop these attacks on nuclear sites that are under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),” the statement said.

The strongly worded condemnation comes as Israel and Iran enter a sixth consecutive day of tit-for-tat strikes, with conflict zones expanding and civilian populations increasingly at risk.