ISTANBUL

China on Tuesday took a broadside at the US and Israel over their joint attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, calling it a “heavy blow” to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

“The armed attacks on peaceful nuclear facilities violate the purposes of the UN Charter, international law, and the statute of the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency). They deal a heavy blow to the authority of NPT and undermine international efforts to uphold the non-proliferation regime (and) could bring serious consequences to regional peace, security, and stability,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters in Beijing.

China, Mao added, “firmly opposes such attacks and advocates peaceful settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue… through dialogue and diplomacy.”

She said China “is concerned over the negative impact of the military strikes by the US and Israel.”

Since they initiated the attacks on Iran last month, the US and Israel have targeted Iranian nuclear facilities in the Iranian cities of Ardakan, Bushehr, and Khondab—home to key nuclear-related infrastructure.

The IAEA on Sunday confirmed that "severe damage" has been inflicted on the heavy water production plant in Iran's Khondab, saying the facility is "no longer operational."

Regarding the meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, in Beijing, Mao said the two sides are “expected to step up coordination on Iran and other regional issues.”

Dar arrived in China on Tuesday for a one-day visit to meet with Wang, as Pakistan leads efforts to de-escalate the Middle East situation by relaying messages from Washington to Tehran.

Beijing “deeply regrets” damages to Iranian cultural relics, historical sites during the conflict, Mao said.

“China urges all parties, especially the US and Israel, to fully stop the military operations at once, start dialogue and negotiations and bring an early end to war that should not have happened,” said the spokeswoman.

Mao also confirmed that three Chinese vessels had passed through the Strait of Hormuz, thanking "relevant parties" and calling for "an early and peaceful ceasefire" and "a stable Persian Gulf."

Tehran has maintained effective control of the strait since early March, during the US-Israeli attacks on Iran, which have killed over 1,340 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, as well as Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets.

At least 13 US servicemen, besides dozens of others wounded, have been killed during the conflict.