Russia and China Warn U.S. Against Intervention as Conflict Expands into Northeastern Iran

International diplomatic pressure is mounting as Russia and China have jointly condemned recent Israeli strikes on Iran. In a coordinated effort following a phone call between Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, the two powers warned the Trump administration against direct U.S. military intervention. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that the Kremlin is specifically cautioning Washington to avoid further involvement in the volatile situation. On the ground, the conflict has expanded geographically with combined forces extending strike operations into Iran's northeastern Khorasan Razavi Province. The strikes around the city of Mashhad represent the furthest northeastern reach of military operations recorded in the current conflict to date. This expansion follows an unprecedented wave of Israeli aerial strikes last week, which triggered a significant response from Tehran involving missile and drone attacks.