US defends strikes on Iran's nuclear sites at UNSC as Russia and China condemn action

The United States and Israel on Sunday at the United Nations Security Council strongly defended their military actions targeting Iran's nuclear sites, saying the regime in Tehran cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon.

The UN emergency session followed US-led strikes on three key Iranian nuclear sites on Saturday, prompting reactions from several member states.

The time finally came for the United States, in the defense of its ally and in the defense of our own citizens and interests, to act decisively.

The Iranian regime cannot have a nuclear weapon.

Make no mistake, the cost of inaction would have been catastrophic.

A nuclear Iran would have been a death sentence just as much for you as it would have been for us.

Russia, China and Pakistan, key allies of Iran, condemned the U.S. strikes and Iran's top diplomat vowed retaliation.

The timing, nature and the scale of Iran's proportionate response will be decided by its armed forces.

Meanwhile, the B-2 stealth bombers that dropped bunker-busting bombs on Iranian nuclear facilities returned to its US base in Missouri on Sunday.

US President Donald Trump insisted the airstrikes were a limited intervention and urged Tehran to negotiate.