The United Nations Security Council convened an urgent session on Saturday, February 28, 2026, in response to rapidly deteriorating conditions across the Middle East following coordinated military operations by United States and Israeli forces against Iranian targets. The emergency meeting was formally requested by a coalition of nations including China, Russia, France, Bahrain, and Colombia.
China’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Fu Cong, expressed profound concern regarding the timing and nature of the military actions, characterizing them as ‘shocking’ given their occurrence during active diplomatic negotiations between Washington and Tehran. The ambassador emphasized the critical need for political sincerity among all involved parties and urged an immediate return to dialogue channels.
The military engagement initiated by US and Israeli forces triggered immediate retaliatory measures from Iran, which launched counterstrikes targeting American and Israeli military installations across multiple Arab nations. The conflict rapidly expanded to involve Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Lebanon by Saturday evening.
Ambassador Fu underscored China’s consistent position regarding respect for national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of Iran and other regional nations. He voiced particular distress over the significant civilian casualties resulting from the escalating violence, stressing that ‘the red line of protecting civilians in armed conflict must never be crossed.’
The Chinese diplomat reiterated Beijing’s firm opposition to the use or threat of force in international relations, calling instead for strict adherence to the UN Charter’s principles. He emphasized that indiscriminate military actions remain unacceptable under international law, including humanitarian provisions that mandate civilian protection and safeguard civilian infrastructure.
‘Force represents an inadequate pathway for resolving international disputes,’ Ambassador Fu stated during the emergency session. ‘The dangerous spillover effects of escalating Middle East tensions benefit no nation. The only viable solution lies through diplomatic engagement and negotiated settlements.’