分类： politics

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.’

In a dramatic escalation of Middle East tensions, US and Israeli forces launched unprecedented coordinated strikes against multiple Iranian targets on February 28, 2026. Dubbed “Operation Epic Fury” by the Pentagon, the massive missile offensive represents a fundamental shift in the longstanding conflict between Tehran and Western powers.

The operation targeted Iran’s ballistic missile infrastructure, including production facilities, storage sites, and launch capabilities—a clear attempt to degrade Tehran’s primary regional deterrent. Unlike previous limited strikes, including the 2025 nuclear site attacks that prompted measured Iranian responses, this campaign appears designed to fundamentally alter Iran’s military and political landscape.

Notably, strikes hit a compound housing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with Israeli officials confirming the 86-year-old leader was specifically targeted. President Trump simultaneously addressed Iranians directly via video message, urging them to “take over your government” in what experts interpret as an explicit regime change objective.

This military action follows months of diplomatic efforts in Oman and Geneva that ultimately failed to bridge differences over Iran’s ballistic missile program and support for regional proxy groups. Tehran had consistently rejected limitations on its missile capabilities, considering them vital to national security doctrine.

Iran has promised “crushing” retaliation, though its conventional capabilities have been significantly degraded by the strikes. Regional security analysts warn that Tehran may leverage unconventional capabilities through proxy forces including Hezbollah, Iraqi Shia militias, and Yemen’s Houthis, potentially increasing terrorism risks globally.

The operation proceeds without congressional authorization, relying instead on presidential Article 2 powers. Under the War Powers Act, the administration has 60 days to conclude operations or seek formal congressional approval, creating a political timer on military actions.

With both sides facing existential stakes and no clear diplomatic off-ramp, the region braces for potentially prolonged conflict that could redefine Middle East power dynamics for generations.

In a controversial social media post on Saturday, former U.S. President Donald Trump asserted that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed during joint U.S.-Israeli military operations. Utilizing his Truth Social platform, Trump declared this development represented “justice for the people of Iran and all Great Americans,” while praising the effectiveness of American intelligence and tracking systems developed in collaboration with Israel.

The former president characterized the situation as a pivotal opportunity for Iranian citizens to reclaim their nation, simultaneously claiming that numerous members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and security forces had lost their will to combat. Trump indicated his willingness to grant these individuals immunity while promising continued “heavy and pinpoint bombing” operations throughout the coming week “or as long as necessary to achieve our objective.

These assertions were promptly contradicted by multiple sources. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated to NBC News that, to his knowledge, “almost all officials are safe and sound and alive,” acknowledging only minimal commander casualties. Iranian state media agencies Tasnim and Mehr similarly refuted the claims, describing the Supreme Leader as remaining “steadfast and firm in commanding the field.

An official from Khamenei’s office denounced the allegations as enemy “mental warfare,” urging public vigilance against psychological operations. The conflicting narratives emerged amid reports of significant military engagements, with Iranian media citing Red Crescent figures indicating Saturday’s strikes affected 24 provinces and resulted in at least 201 fatalities. Iran subsequently launched counterattacks targeting Israeli and U.S. military assets across the Middle East, further escalating regional tensions.

Middle East Eye noted the inability to independently verify Trump’s claims, particularly as the former president provided no substantiating evidence for his assertions regarding the Iranian leader’s status.

The initial hours following U.S.-Israeli military strikes on Iran ignited a fierce and multifaceted debate across Farsi-language social media, revealing profound fractures within the Iranian opposition movement. The discourse, spanning the entire political spectrum, showcased a stark divergence of opinions regarding foreign intervention.

Almost immediately, anti-war activists resurrected the Farsi hashtag #NoToWar, advocating against military escalation. This stance stood in direct opposition to calls from pro-monarchy factions, spearheaded by Reza Pahlavi—the Israel-aligned son of Iran’s last Shah—who publicly demanded an intensification of attacks on the Islamic Republic. Pahlavi’s camp, which has aggressively campaigned against rival opposition voices since Israel’s previous conflict with Iran, found itself at the center of a growing storm of criticism.

Prominent journalist and regime critic Panah Farhadbahman issued a stark warning against foreign military action, drawing a historical parallel. He likened contemporary supporters of extensive U.S. strikes to those who backed the 1979 revolution, emphasizing that their advocacy would be permanently recorded. In a separate statement, Farhadbahman argued that the destruction of military infrastructure by Israel and the U.S. strategically weakens any future Iranian government, questioning the sincerity of motives behind the strikes.

The criticism of Pahlavi intensified as users circulated symbolic imagery highlighting his perceived foreign allegiances. Comparative graphics placed his grandfather, Reza Shah, next to the British flag (referencing the 1921 coup), his father, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, beside the American flag (referencing the 1953 CIA-backed coup), and Reza Pahlavi himself adjacent to the Israeli flag, identifying it as his primary foreign supporter—a connection many opposition figures find deeply troubling.

This sentiment was echoed by political analyst Behrouz Farahani, who pointedly questioned the prospect of Israeli-backed democracy by sharing a report on Israeli soldiers shooting a Palestinian child. The Toofan opposition group abroad condemned the attacks, declaring that ‘war of aggression is not a solution to any problem. It is the problem.’

The human cost of the conflict was brought into sharp focus by the widespread sharing of images from a struck girls’ school in Minab, where officials reported at least 85 fatalities, predominantly girls aged seven to twelve. This tragedy fueled a complex sentiment captured in one user’s post: ‘No to the Islamic regime. No to war. No to Israeli and US aggression. No to fascism and Pahlavi.’

Conversely, U.S.-backed figures like journalist Masih Alinejad called for continued assaults, a position that also drew significant backlash. One user criticized Alinejad for celebrating a strike on a former official’s residence while allegedly ignoring the visible panic and potential civilian casualties in the footage she shared.

The anti-war movement also resonated with persecuted religious minorities. A widely circulated video featured Pastor Mona Pahlevani directly addressing Iranians who had solicited foreign intervention, holding them responsible for the ensuing Iranian deaths and stating, ‘The blood of the people killed in the war… is on your hands.’