Fifteen countries, including Iran, China and Russia, have stressed that safeguarded nuclear facilities must never be threatened or attacked, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA.

Citing a joint statement issued during the 70th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), IRNA reports that the 15 nations underlined the need for “clear and firm opposition to any attack or threat against nuclear facilities”, urging all members to preserve the credibility of the watchdog’s safeguards system.

“The countries warned that remaining silent in the face of attacks on safeguarded nuclear facilities undermines established international norms, weakens international legal order and prepares the ground to normalise such moves,” the news agency adds.