China says US strikes on Iran undermine Washington’s credibility

CHINA has strongly criticised the United States following its military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, warning that the attack has severely damaged Washington’s international credibility and risks pushing the region towards uncontrollable escalation.

According to state broadcaster CCTV, Chinese UN Ambassador Fu Cong, speaking at a United Nations Security Council meeting on Sunday, urged all parties to exercise restraint.

“Parties should restrain the impulse of force, avoid exacerbating conflicts and adding fuel to the fire,” he said, adding that “Israel should immediately cease fire to prevent the situation from escalating and avoid the spillover of war”.

Fu also remarked that although Iran had suffered damage, “the United States’ credibility was also damaged – both as a country and as a participant in any international negotiations”.

The Security Council convened following US President Donald Trump’s announcement that American forces had “obliterated” Tehran’s key nuclear sites, in coordinated action with Israel – marking the most significant Western military offensive against the Islamic Republic since the 1979 revolution.

A resolution jointly proposed by China, Russia and Pakistan calls for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the Middle East.

Chinese state media condemned the US move as “extremely dangerous and provocative”. In an editorial, the Global Times wrote: “External military interference will never bring peace. It only deepens regional hatred and trauma.”

Separately, China’s embassy in Iran stated that most Chinese nationals had been evacuated safely, while those remaining were not in high-risk areas.

Meanwhile, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) announced the formation of a ministerial-level contact group to establish regular communication with regional and international stakeholders, aimed at easing tensions and “stopping the aggression against Iran”.

In a joint communiqué issued after a meeting of foreign ministers in Istanbul, the 57-member bloc condemned what it described as “Israeli aggression” against Iran and emphasised the “urgent need to halt Zionist regime attacks” amid growing concerns over dangerous regional escalation.

The statement called on the international community to take “preventive measures to stop the aggression and ensure Israel is held accountable for its crimes”, though it made no mention of the United States’ involvement in the strikes. - June 23, 2025