Russia and China Condemn US-Israel Attack on Iran as Violation of International Law, But Stop Short of Military Intervention

Tehran's two most powerful diplomatic partners, Russia and China, have labeled the US-Israel attack on Iran, which resulted in over a thousand casualties, as a blatant violation of international law.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday called the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei a reprehensible breach of all values of human morality. Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Sa'ar, that the use of force would not provide a real solution to the problem and urged all parties to avoid further escalation of tensions.

Russia and China have jointly demanded an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council. This reaction reflects the close ties between Iran, Russia, and China. 

Moscow and Beijing have expanded their coordination through the signing of bilateral agreements and joint naval exercises. They are presenting a united front against the US-led international world order that has long sought to isolate them.

However, despite their strong statements, neither country has shown any intention of military intervention in support of Iran.

• Russia-Iran: Strategic Partners, Not Military Allies

In January 2025, Russia and Iran signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty covering areas from trade and military cooperation to science, culture, and education. This agreement deepened defense and intelligence coordination and supported projects such as a transport corridor connecting Russia to the Gulf via Iran.

Just one week before the US and Israel attacked Iran (at the end of February), the two countries conducted joint military exercises in the Indian Ocean. But when the war began, Moscow was not obligated to respond because the treaty did not include a clause for mutual defense. This means the agreement was not a formal military alliance.

Andrei Kortunov, former Director General of the Russian International Affairs Council and a member of the Valdai Discussion Club, a think tank on Russian foreign policy, told Al Jazeera via video link from Moscow that the mutual defense treaty Russia signed with North Korea in 2024 is an example of a more binding agreement for military cooperation.

He stated, “Under that agreement, Russia would be obliged to join if North Korea gets involved in any conflict, whereas the treaty with Iran only stipulates that if one party is involved in a conflict, the other will refrain from any hostile action.”

According to Kortunov, the likelihood of Russia taking direct military action in support of Iran is very low due to the high risks involved. He added, “Moscow currently appears to be prioritizing US mediation in the conflict with Ukraine.” He recalled that Russia adopted a similar stance when the US attacked Venezuela in January and arrested President Nicolas Maduro, merely criticizing the US action.

Although the treaty clearly does not obligate Russia to intervene, Kortunov noted that some Iranian officials have expressed some degree of disappointment, expecting Russia to do more than just diplomatic initiatives in the UN Security Council or other multilateral forums.

• China-Iran Relations and Their Limitations

In 2021, China and Iran signed a 25-year cooperation agreement aimed at expanding relations in areas like energy and incorporating Iran into China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Jody Wen, a postdoctoral fellow at the Center for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University who has visited Iran frequently, told Al Jazeera that this relationship is viewed in Beijing as pragmatic and stable.

“Politically, we have regular dialogue,” she said by phone from Beijing, “Economically, cooperation is very deep; many Chinese companies have investments in Iran.”

However, she stressed that Beijing has long drawn clear lines regarding this partnership, especially concerning military involvement. “The Chinese government always adheres to the policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries... I do not think the Chinese government will send weapons to Iran,” she said.

Instead, Beijing's role is more likely to focus on diplomacy and crisis management. “I think China is trying to engage in dialogue with the US and Gulf countries to maintain peace,” Wen said.

She noted that this clarity in the relationship has helped build trust in Tehran. However, she also pointed out that the relationship is not on equal footing.

According to estimates from Kepler, a ship-tracking service, China accounts for 87.2 percent of Iran's annual crude oil exports. This shows how economically vital China is to Iran, whereas Iran is a relatively small partner in China's global trade.

Dillon Loh, an associate professor in the Public Policy and Global Affairs program at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, told Al Jazeera that China's role concerning Iran has now evolved into a protective one, intensifying mediation efforts to prevent a regional collapse that would threaten its regional economic and security interests.

“I think there will now be some reassessment about how to mitigate political risk and what options are available; frankly, this reconsideration started after the US attack on Venezuela,” Loh said.