China’s envoy to the United Nations issued a sharp rebuke of Israel’s recent military strikes on Iranian territory, calling the attacks a violation of international law and a dangerous escalation in an already volatile region.

Speaking during an emergency session of the U.N. Security Council, Ambassador Fu Cong urged restraint from all parties and called for renewed diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East.

“The recent Israeli military operations inside Iranian borders constitute a serious breach of Iran’s sovereignty and threaten regional peace and stability,” Fu said.

“China strongly condemns these unilateral actions and calls on all sides to resolve their differences through dialogue, not force.”

The condemnation came after reports emerged of Israeli airstrikes targeting suspected nuclear and military facilities in Iran, including areas near Isfahan and Tehran.

While Israel has not officially acknowledged the operations, senior Israeli officials have defended the strikes as necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Fu Cong reiterated China’s long-standing support for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, which the U.S. exited in 2018 under President Donald Trump.

“Diplomacy remains the only viable path forward,” Fu said, urging the international community to support non-proliferation efforts and prevent a new war in the region.

The Israeli strikes follow a series of escalatory events between Iran and Israel, including drone attacks, proxy skirmishes in Syria and Lebanon, and growing tensions in the Red Sea.

Western diplomats at the Security Council have expressed concern over the risk of the conflict spilling into neighboring countries and disrupting global oil markets.

In response to China’s remarks, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, defended his country’s actions as acts of self-defense.

“Iran continues to arm terrorist groups and enrich uranium beyond acceptable limits. We will not wait for a second Holocaust to take action,” he said, accusing Beijing of double standards.

Meanwhile, Iran’s representative thanked China and other sympathetic nations for their support and accused Israel of committing “acts of aggression with impunity.”

The United States struck a more cautious tone, calling for de-escalation while reiterating Israel’s right to defend itself.

U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield urged both nations to avoid further military action and return to negotiations, warning that continued conflict could trigger a broader war in the region.

As of Friday, the Security Council had not passed a resolution on the matter, with diplomatic divisions between major powers—including the U.S., China, and Russia—hindering consensus.

The situation remains tense, with the global community watching closely for signs of further retaliation or a possible diplomatic breakthrough.