Russia has sharply rebuked the United States, accusing it of staging a replay of the notorious “Iraqi weapons of mass destruction” saga by launching strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Speaking at an emergency UN Security Council session, Russia’s ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, denounced the action as a dangerous precedent.
Russia has gone on to label the airstrikes and missile attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, calling them “irresponsible, provocative and dangerous,” and warning that they risk pushing the Middle East toward a large-scale war with potentially catastrophic nuclear consequences.
Nebenzia cautioned that the US “has opened a Pandora’s box” with this approach, reflecting a misuse of pretexts that previously justified the 2003 Iraq invasion.
“The United States has opened a Pandora’s box, and no one knows what consequences may follow,” Nebenzia said, noting that by targeting IAEA-supervised nuclear sites, Washington has “once again demonstrated total disregard for the position of the international community.”
Nebenzia underscored that history has shown such actions lead to destabilization rather than security. He drew a pointed comparison to the lead-up to the 2003 Iraq War, when then-US Secretary of State Colin Powell presented false evidence to “justify the invasion of another sovereign state, only to plunge its people into chaos for decades and not find any weapons of mass destruction.”
“Many today feel a strong sense of déjà vu,” he said. “The current situation is essentially no different: we are once again being urged to believe in fairy tales in order to once again bring suffering to millions of people living in the Middle East.”
His remarks responded directly to assertions from Washington that the attacks targeted an imminent Iranian nuclear threat.
U.S. Ambassador Dorothy Shea defended the strikes as a “defensive measure aimed at preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons,” stating they were carried out in cooperation with Israel.
Russia slams Western nations
The U.S. bombed out nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan using B‑2 stealth bombers and bunker-busters—strikes described as causing “monumental damage,” although full verification is pending.
Officials emphasize the mission was limited and not intended to incite “boots on the ground” conflict, but rather to delay Iran’s nuclear program and prompt negotiations.
Tehran has condemned the strikes as violations of international law, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi heading to Moscow for consultations. Iranian officials have promised retaliation and warned of threats to global oil routes such as the Strait of Hormuz.
Russia however also criticized the hypocrisy of Western nations that had for days called for “restraint” in the same Security Council chamber yet failed to condemn Washington for joining Israel in its operation – and even blamed Iran for the escalation.
“We are witnessing an astonishing example of double standards,” Nebenzia said. “Iran has been and remains one of the most thoroughly inspected states under the NPT, but instead of encouraging such an attitude, it receives bombardments of its territory and civilians by a state that refuses, in principle, to sign the NPT.”
Nebenzia warned that the US strikes undermine the authority of the IAEA and the global non-proliferation regime, and that continued escalation could return the world to an era of uncontrolled nuclear risk.
“This is an outrageous and cynical situation, and it is very strange that the Director General of the IAEA did not say a word about it. Neither has he ever called on Israel to join the NPT,” Nebenzia added.
Besides condemning the U.S. as reckless, Russia offered mediation and urged diplomatic channels to be restored.
The UN Secretary-General and IAEA chief voiced concern over potential escalation. Regional powers—China, EU nations, Turkey, India—have all called for restraint and a diplomatic return.
