US-Israel Attacks on Iran Raise Global Nuclear Concerns

A senior Russian diplomat has warned that recent military actions by the United States and Israel against Iran have significantly weakened the global nuclear nonproliferation framework and oversight mechanisms.

Speaking in Moscow, Sergey Ryabkov, Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia, strongly criticized the attacks, describing them as unlawful and politically motivated. Addressing an international forum, he stated that “The unprovoked, unjustified, and illegal attacks by Israel and the United States on Iran have dealt a heavy blow to the treaty and the IAEA safeguards system.”

Ryabkov emphasized that such actions undermine the integrity of the International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which serve as the cornerstone of global nuclear security. He further described the strikes as “an egregious manifestation of a course aimed at abusing the nuclear nonproliferation regime and the NPT as its cornerstone.”

According to the Russian official, the attacks primarily served the strategic interests of Israel, a state that has not formally adhered to the NPT framework. He criticized the situation as contradictory, noting that the United States—a founding member of the treaty—was directly involved in the military campaign.

“The cynicism of the situation lies in the fact that the Israeli-US attacks on Iran were carried out under the cover of negotiations,” Ryabkov said, referring to diplomatic efforts intended to ensure the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program.

He also highlighted that the strikes targeted not only nuclear facilities but also civilian infrastructure. “Not only peaceful nuclear facilities were bombed, which is absolutely unacceptable by any standard, but also other civilian facilities, including educational and scientific institutions,” he stated.

The escalation followed a large-scale military offensive launched on February 28, which reportedly resulted in the assassination of key Iranian leadership figures, including Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

In response, Iran initiated extensive retaliatory operations, deploying missiles and drones against US military installations and Israeli targets across the region.

Currently, a fragile ceasefire mediated by Pakistan remains in effect, although tensions persist amid concerns over potential maritime restrictions in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.