...
By Shane Croucher and Micah McCartney
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
China accused the United States of violating the United Nations Charter with its strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and warned all involved parties to avoid further escalating the conflict.
"The U.S. attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities seriously violate the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter and have exacerbated tensions in the Middle East. The U.N. Security Council cannot sit idly by," said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian at a press briefing on Monday.
Newsweek reached out to the U.S. State Department with a request for comment outside of office hours.
Read More on World
Why It Matters
U.S. B-2 bombers dropped a total of 420,000 pounds of explosives, including two "bunker buster" bombs, on Iran's key nuclear enrichment sites at Fordo and Natanz, while Tomahawk missiles struck a third site in Isfahan.
The U.S. action marked a major escalation of the conflict sparked nine days before when Israel launched bombing raids against Iran in a bid to cripple the country's nuclear program. Israel has claimed Iran was on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon. Iran maintained that its enrichment program was for peaceful energy purposes.
Iran responded with its own strikes, and the two sides continued to exchange missile fire throughout the week.
What To Know
Russia, Pakistan and China—a "strategic partner" of Iran, have submitted a draft resolution at the U.N. Security Council calling for an "immediate and unconditional ceasefire," Lin said Monday.
"Together, we sent out the message of justice that reflects the strong call from the international community," he said. "We hope council members can jointly support the draft resolution and enable the Security Council to play its role for the maintenance of international peace and security."
"China urges parties to the conflict to prevent the escalation of the situation," Lin said. He added Beijing stands ready to "play a constructive role in restoring peace in the Middle East."
...
The U.S.—which has been a staunch supporter of the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—is likely to block the resolution as one of the Security Council's five veto-wielding permanent members.
Lin's comment about the U.N. Charter appeared to reference Article 2(4), which requires members to refrain from "the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations."
Responding to a question about Iran's threat to close the Strait of Hormuz—a key shipping lane linking the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea—Lin called the waterway "an important route for international trade in goods and energy."
He urged the global community to step up efforts to prevent the regional conflict from having a broader impact on economic growth.
Blocking the strait would drive up oil to double its current price, an analyst at BCA research previously told Newsweek. The move could also have an outsized impact on China, which has the world's second-largest economy, and is highly dependent on energy imports.
An estimated 45 percent of China's oil imports travel through the Strait of Hormuz, and China accounts for 90 percent of Iran's oil shipments.
Taking to Truth Social on Sunday, President Donald Trump claimed that "monumental damage" was inflicted on the targeted nuclear enrichment sites.
However, after reviewing commercial satellite images, some independent analysts have said the damage appears to be more limited and pointed out Iran likely possesses significant amounts of enriched uranium elsewhere.
What People Are Saying
Professor Wang Jin, assistant director of the Institute of Middle East Studies, Northwest University of China, was quoted in The Paper as saying: "The United States' direct attack on Iranian territory has placed Iran in a major strategic bind. If Iran retaliates against the U.S., it will inevitably have to strike American military bases in neighboring countries, especially Arab states. [...] if Iran attacks U.S. bases within these countries, it is very likely that their diplomatic stance will quickly shift toward the U.S. and Israel, leaving Iran even more isolated."
Jeffrey Lewis, a professor at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, was quoted by NPR as saying: "At the end of the day there are some really important things that haven't been hit. If this ends here, it's a really incomplete strike."
What's Next
Tehran has accused Washington of betraying the diplomatic process and vowed retaliation against over Sundays's attack.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines