Kremlin warns that other nations ready to give Iran nukes: ‘Dangerous escalation has begun'
Moscow warned Sunday that several nations are prepared to supply Tehran with nuclear weapons, as Russia and China condemned America's attack on Iran's nuclear facilities.
Dmitry Medvedev, who serves as deputy head of Russian President Vladimir Putin's Security Council, claimed Saturday's US airstrike — the first to use 15-ton GBU-57 'bunker-buster' bombs in combat — only caused minimal damage to Tehran's nuclear sites, including the fortified Fordow enrichment plant.
Medvedev, who did not specify which countries are ready to arm Tehran, reiterated that the attacks would not stop Russia's ally in the Middle East from acquiring nuclear weapons.
The statement comes as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he will be traveling to Moscow to meet with Putin to discuss countermeasures.
'We enjoy a strategic partnership, and we always consult with each other and coordinate our positions,' Araghchi told Russian media.
Russia's Foreign Ministry described the American airstrike in Iran as 'a gross violation of international law, the UN Charter, and UN Security Council resolutions.
'It is already clear that a dangerous escalation has begun, fraught with further undermining of regional and global security,' the ministry said in a statement.
Beijing echoed the accusations that the US had violated international law by carrying out the airstrikes, with China's foreign ministry warning that the attack will have a ripple effect across the Middle East.
But Chinese officials also said their country is committed to keep the fighting from escalating, with Beijing calling for a cease-fire.
'China is willing to work with the international community to pool efforts together and uphold justice, and contribute to the work for restoring peace and stability in the Middle East,' the ministry said in a statement.
China is being pressured by the US to stop Iran from closing the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping route whose closure would impact global prices.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday called on Beijing to make sure Iran keeps the oil port open, noting that the bulk of China's oil comes from the Strait.
'It will have some impact on us,' Rubio told CBS News' 'Face the Nation' of the possible closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
'It will have a lot more impact on the rest of the world,' he added, calling the move 'economic suicide' for Iran.
With Post wires
Originally published as Kremlin warns that other nations ready to give Iran nukes: 'Dangerous escalation has begun'
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