New York, June 23 -- Russia's Ambassador to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, sharply criticised the United States for its recent military strikes on Iran, accusing Washington of opening a "Pandora's box" with potentially catastrophic consequences for global security.

His remarks came during an emergency special session of the Security Council at UN Headquarters in New York on Sunday (local time).

Speaking under the agenda item "threats to international peace and security", Nebenzia condemned the US-led strikes targeting Iran's nuclear sites as "irresponsible, dangerous, and provocative," amid escalating tensions between the Islamic Republic and Israel.

"Washington reasserted that to further the interests of its Israeli ally, it's ...