China sharply criticizes Israel: "It will never be noble and just"

China has firmly opposed Israeli attacks on Iran, calling them a violation of the country's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. It has also called for an immediate cessation of any military action that could lead to escalation, China's UN envoy Fu Cong said on Saturday.

During Friday's meeting of the UN Security Council, the Chinese diplomat stressed that Beijing opposes any actions leading to the escalation of the conflict and warned of the possible consequences of Israeli attacks.

Fu Cong said that "no matter what the pretext, killing civilians will never become noble and just ." He also appealed to all states to respect international law.

SEE: Iran's wave of retaliatory attacks. Rocket lands near buildings

According to him, "the international community should take the necessary actions to stop all illegal acts and hold those responsible to account , jointly defending multilateralism and the authority of international law."

Beijing also expressed concern about the potential implications of recent events for diplomatic negotiations over Iran's nuclear program.

The same day, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian expressed "deep concern over the serious consequences " of Israel's actions.

Beijing and Tehran have a close relationship , stemming from China's efforts to secure energy security by importing Iranian oil. It is part of a broader Chinese strategy to assert influence in the Middle East , which is linked to its rivalry with the United States.

SEE: Response to attack: Iran fires missiles at Israel

Israel carried out attacks on Iranian targets early Friday, saying they targeted military and nuclear facilities. Iranian media and officials said the attacks included a major uranium enrichment facility at Natanz in central Iran and facilities at Parchin, where experts say nuclear weapons research is being conducted.