Delegates from Russia and China had sharp words for the United States’ war with Iran and operations related to Cuba during their Saturday speeches before the United Nations General Assembly.
Russia’s foreign affairs minister Sergey Lavrov and China’s Vice President Han Zheng each sided with the Iranian regime over the Trump administration regarding the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.
“It is unacceptable the fact that force was used to kill the supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and members of his family, members of the military, and the political leadership of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Lavrov said. “We’re particularly disquieted by the fact that the U.S. and Israeli aggression, which began in June of last year, also seeks to target the civilian infrastructure in Iran and civilian nuclear infrastructure under [International Atomic Energy Agency] safeguards.”
Lavrov called for stability in the region and in the Strait of Hormuz, pointing to the global energy trade crisis that has been top of mind for Democrats during the midterms, saying the airstrikes in the waterway are “dealing a blow to global navigation and trade.”
Zheng took aim more broadly against war and conflict across the world, saying “we should safeguard the post-war international order and foster lasting peace based on common security.”
“China holds that the sovereignty and security of countries in the Middle East, including the Gulf, should be respected,” Zheng said.
Both Lavrov and Zheng took another cut at Israel by supporting Gaza, with Lavrov calling the recognition of Palestinian statehood “the main issue in the Middle East.”
The two further railed against the Trump administration’s foreign policy aims by going after the U.S. energy blockade of Cuba.
“China urges the relevant country to immediately stop using threat of force against Cuba and immediately and completely lift the blockade and sanctions against Cuba,” Zheng said, referring to the United States without directly naming the country or the Trump administration.
In contrast, Lavrov directly name-dropped the U.S. when discussing Cuba, saying, “We insist that the U.S. lift its siege on the island of freedom and lift all restrictions on trade with Cuba.” He also asked the U.S. to remove Cuba from its state sponsors of terrorism list.
“We need urgent measures to be taken to address the terrible humanitarian situation in Cuba, which is under extreme, unprecedented pressure on the part of its northern neighbor. We stand in solidarity with the Cuban people and its government,” Lavrov said.
President Donald Trump addressed his administration’s aims in Cuba on Saturday in a press gaggle before Lavrov and Zheng took the U.N. stage, underscoring that he did not think U.S. military action would be necessary on the communist island.
“I would say that Cuba and us will make a deal,” Trump said Saturday. “I don’t think we’ll need the military. Cuba is failing very badly. We want to help Cuba. We want to open Cuba up to our people. We have great Cuban Americans who want to go back.”
Zheng and Lavrov’s speeches each mark a striking dissenting tone from U.S. foreign policy, just as Trump has touted recent progress with each country’s leaders. Trump has noted his recent successful calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin, while he also comes of the heels of a multi-day meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, which he said was “one of Friendship, Strength, and Success.”
TRUMP CONFIRMS HE REJECTED IRAN’S PEACE PROPOSAL
Both Lavrov and Zheng called for global development on Saturday, as Lavrov railed against Western unity and what he called the “brute force” of Western powers.
“The Western minority, which dominated for 500 years thanks to others’ resources, continues to try to maintain its privileges and to impose its own rules on everyone else,” Lavrov said.
