China reaffirms support for Iran as top diplomats hold phone call amid Mideast escalation
Beijing has urged US, Israel to ‘immediately cease military operations, prevent further escalation of tensions,’ Foreign Minister Wang Yi says in phone call with Iranian counterpart
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi
ISTANBUL
China on Monday reaffirmed its support for Iran during a phone call between the foreign ministers of Beijing and Tehran, held against the backdrop of escalation in the Middle East.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi that Beijing stands by Tehran “in safeguarding its sovereignty, security, territorial integrity, and national dignity.”
He stressed that China supports Iran in “upholding its legitimate and lawful rights and interests,” according to a statement published on the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s website.
“China has urged the US and Israel to immediately cease military operations, prevent further escalation of tensions, and stop the conflict from spreading and engulfing the entire Middle East,” Wang said.
Wang calls for diplomacy in talks with French, Omani counterparts
The Chinese foreign minister on Monday also held separate phone calls with French and Omani counterparts, calling for diplomacy to resolve the escalating crisis.
In a phone call with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, Wang said countries should not use their “military advantage to launch arbitrary attacks against other nations,” according to state-run news agency Xinhua.
In a separate call with Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, Wang praised the “unprecedented progress” in Muscat-mediated talks with Iran and urged all parties to promote an early ceasefire.
He said China values the “legitimate demands of the Gulf states and supports them in safeguarding their sovereignty and national security,” but added that, in the long term, war is not in their interest.
Joint US-Israeli strikes since Saturday have reportedly killed several senior Iranian officials, including Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Tehran has responded with drone and missile attacks targeting US-linked sites in Gulf countries, causing multiple fatalities. Four US service members have been killed and four others seriously injured.
The Iranian Red Crescent said the death toll from US and Israeli airstrikes since Saturday has risen to 555.
*Sidrah Roghay contributed to the story from Karachi
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