Iran Archives - Friends of Socialist China

Narratives seeking to smear China by exploiting the US-Israel-Iran conflict should stop

As the criminal US-Israeli war on Iran enters its fourth week, a new front has opened in the information space. Alongside the bombs and missiles, a set of coordinated Western narratives has emerged targeting China: claiming that Beijing has suffered a strategic failure, that it bears some responsibility for the conflict, or that it hopes to benefit in some way from the carnage. The following editorial from Global Times systematically dismantles all three claims.

The reality is straightforward. China is not a party to this conflict. It did not authorise it, did not seek it, and has nothing to gain from it. What China has done is speak up clearly for international law, denounce illegal aggression, dispatch its special envoy to the region, call for respect for Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and provide emergency humanitarian assistance to the civilian victims of the war – including the 175 killed in the US bombing of a girls’ school in Minab. As the editorial puts it with blunt precision: “Aside from the Western military-industrial complex profiting from arms sales, there are no winners in this war.”

These narratives targeting China are designed to shift blame, suppress calls for peace, and provide cover for aggression.

The military conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran has entered its third week, with the situation remaining complex and tense. Without authorization from the UN Security Council, the US and Israel launched attacks and killed Iran’s supreme leader, deliberately provoking a war against Iran. China is not a party to this conflict. However, some Western narratives have seized the opportunity to fabricate claims aimed at discrediting China. These narratives broadly fall into three categories: the so-called “China failure” narrative, the “China responsibility” narrative, and the “China winner” narrative. Such absurd claims are driven by ulterior motives and thinly veiled political self-interest.

The so-called “China failure” narrative hypes that China’s strategy of turning Iran into a key regional pillar is on the verge of collapse. The facts are clear: China has never been involved in this conflict, nor has it bet on any side. The conflict is the result of unilateral military actions by the US and Israel and has nothing to do with China’s diplomatic or economic strategies. China has actively expanded exchanges and cooperation with various countries including the Middle Eastern states based on respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. It does not engage in military alliances, bloc confrontation, or proxy wars. Its influence in the Middle East is built on deep and extensive cooperation, which gives it resilience even amid conflict. Where, then, is the so-called “strategic failure”?

Such claims merely reflect a power-politics mind-set obsessed with staking out spheres of influence, one that fails to understand the values of peaceful coexistence and mutual benefit in China’s foreign policy.

China’s role in supporting Iran

The following comment on the various ways in which China has been supporting Iran in defending its sovereignty has been collectively drafted by the members of the Friends of Socialist China US committee.

Increasingly countries are able to resist U.S. imperialism’s most violent, unpredictable attacks and overwhelming firepower by sharing simple technology, resisting U.S. sanctions and increasing trade with each other.

Iran has made stunning progress in self-defense capability by developing many thousands of relatively low tech, far less expensive drones. The Pentagon and the Zionist military is forced to burn through precious supplies of fabulously expensive and complex interceptor missiles in an effort to block barrages of Iranian drones that are very effective.

Until recently the U.S. had a chokehold on many forms of technology. Those days are past.

Iran has acquired significant and strategic technological, military, and surveillance capability from China, strengthening its defense capabilities and internal security infrastructure. Key areas include missile components, air defense systems, drone technology, AI-enabled surveillance, and satellite navigation via the Beidou system to track U.S. forces. This boosts Iran’s operational capabilities.

Although satellites are now precise enough to read the license on a car from space, all of the maps available commercially are clouded over on U.S. bases and important industrial and military sites. Only the Pentagon had full access or the ability to read in real time tens of thousands of complex images.

Real-Time Intelligence Sharing:

But once technology exists it is impossible to keep it in a box.

China has utilized its fleet of 500+ satellites to provide the world with constant SIGINT (Signals Intelligence) and terrain mapping. This support helps Iran track US naval movements in the Persian Gulf in real-time.

Chinese commercial satellite firms, notably MizarVision, have publicly released high-resolution, AI-annotated, satellite images of U.S. military bases and assets throughout West Asia.

The company specialises in generating geospatial intelligence. The images appear in near-real time. So U.S. aircraft, naval vessels, and air defense systems (such as Patriot and THAAD systems) are visible in locations including Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bahrain.

Conventional armed forces are now vulnerable to observation from hundreds of satellites in low Earth orbit. A number of the facilities and assets posted by MizarVision were subsequently targeted by Iran in missile and drone strikes, which were launched after the US and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury on 28 February.

The deluge of material shows how difficult it has become to hide military assets..

MizarVision’s account on X media site made its first post on 24 February, four days before the U.S. launched their sneak attack.

This now publicly accessible imagery can be downloaded almost immediately, offering a cheap source of real-time intelligence. The images of U.S. bases, naval groups and air defence systems, are all labelled and geolocated using artificial intelligence.

Interview: Understanding China’s foreign policy

In the video embedded below, Friends of Socialist China co-editor Carlos Martinez joins Roger McKenzie for a detailed exploration of China’s foreign policy, its domestic progress, and the geopolitical strategies shaping the 21st century. The two discuss the importance of understanding China’s rise, the global shift towards multipolarity, and the need for solidarity against imperialist pressures.

Some of the key ideas put forward include:

• China’s foreign policy rests on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, first formulated by Zhou Enlai in 1954 and adopted at the Bandung Conference the following year. These principles – mutual respect for sovereignty, non-aggression, non-interference, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence – elevate what Lenin conceived as a tactical necessity into a principled theoretical framework. The core insight is that countries with fundamentally different social systems can and must coexist, and that all non-imperialist countries share a common interest in opposing domination and pursuing their own development paths. Today these principles find expression in China’s vision of a community with a shared future for humanity, underpinned by the Belt and Road Initiative, BRICS (which now surpasses the G7 in GDP, population and landmass), the SCO, and the G77. Multipolarity – a negotiated international order in which no single power can impose its will – is not only urgently needed to address existential challenges like climate change and nuclear war, but is, as Samir Amin argued, the necessary framework for the possible overcoming of capitalism itself.

• The United States is not accepting this shift passively. Brzezinski identified the nightmare scenario decades ago: a grand coalition of China, Russia and Iran. US responses have included proxy war against Russia in Ukraine, military encirclement of China through AUKUS and Pacific buildups, unconditional support for Israel, tariff wars, semiconductor controls, the kidnapping of president Maduro, the suffocation of Cuba, the reassertion of the Monroe Doctrine, and now open war on Iran. The US is losing economic and technological primacy but retains overwhelming military power, and the danger is precisely that of a declining empire reaching for military solutions.

• The war on Iran must be understood in this context. It is not about nuclear weapons – nobody believes that. It is not about women’s rights – women’s rights are improving in Iran and deteriorating in the West. It is a criminal attack, carried out by presidential decree without reference to international law or domestic legal process, against a sovereign state that supports Palestinian resistance, maintains public ownership of its energy resources, and is a key node in the multipolar project – a crucial link in the Belt and Road, a member of BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and an important energy partner for China. The attack is simultaneously an attempt to seize control of energy flows, to develop strategic chokepoints that could be used against China in a hot war, and to destroy the axis of resistance across West Asia. It is the empire striking back.

• China is supporting Iran to the best of its abilities – diplomatically, economically, and with military cooperation – but does not have the capacity to project military power into the region. Nonetheless, Iran is a fiercely independent country with formidable military capabilities. The US and Israel will not achieve their objectives: they will not install a puppet regime, will not destroy the Palestinian resistance, and will not seize Iran’s strategic position.

• The task for progressive forces in the West is to oppose the war on Iran, oppose the New Cold War on China and the propaganda war that sustains it, and build the broadest possible united front against imperialism, racism and neoliberalism. We are not the vanguard – that role belongs to the socialist countries and the peoples under direct attack. But everyone has a part to play, and we must do what we can to build solidarity and make war untenable for the imperialists.

China chokehold: Long-term goal of the US war on Iran

Why is the United States waging war on Iran? The official justifications shift by the day – nuclear weapons, Israeli security, bringing “democracy” – but CJ Atkins, writing in People’s World, cuts through the noise to identify a deeper strategic logic.

Ironically, it has fallen to the far-right, pro-Trump, Falun Gong-affiliated Epoch Times to spell it out most clearly. The war on Iran, like the January invasion of Venezuela, is to a considerable degree a move against China. Iran supplied 13.4 percent of China’s seaborne oil imports last year, Venezuela a further 4.5 percent. Combined with Russia, sanctioned suppliers accounted for a third of China’s entire crude import mix in 2024. Neutralising Iran – and with it, threatening Chinese access to the Strait of Hormuz, through which 37.7 percent of China’s crude oil flows – is a bid to put Beijing in an energy chokehold.

Atkins writes: “Iran sits alongside that chokepoint and, as recent days have made abundantly clear, is capable of threatening access to it. It is the one independent actor in the region that can seriously complicate shipping through the whole corridor. That’s a power the U.S. government would prefer to have in its own hands.”

As such, the criminal aggression against Iran and Venezuela forms part of the US-led long-term campaign of containment and encirclement of the People’s Republic of China.

This is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the deeper architecture of US imperialism’s current offensive. It makes clear that the wars on Iran and Venezuela are not separate conflicts but coordinated moves in a single grand strategy: not only a war on Tehran or Caracas, but a war on the multipolar trajectory. Such a strategy must be resolutely opposed.

There’s an angle to the Iran War that the cable news anchors, retired generals-turned-commentators, and corporate-owned newspapers are barely talking about, if at all. They report on the shifting justifications proffered by Pete Hegseth, Marco Rubio, or Donald Trump, but few in the press are doing anything to illuminate the bigger picture.

The United States isn’t attacking Iran simply because of Tehran’s nuclear program, or out of concern for the welfare of the Iranian people, or even purely for Israel’s security. The Trump administration’s decision to launch its war was motivated by a goal that goes well beyond nuclear non-proliferation. Nor is the war a case of Tel Aviv telling Washington what to do, regardless of what some of Netanyahu’s most intense critics want to believe.

It has fallen to the far-right, anti-communist outlet The Epoch Times—the newspaper associated with the Falun Gong cult—to offer the truth about what the U.S. is up to. “A key strategic dimension of the Iran conflict,” wrote James Gorrie, a regular columnist for the pro-Trump paper in its March 13 issue, “involves Washington’s efforts to control and even restrict Iranian oil flows to China.”

China affirms Iran’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, and pledges humanitarian assistance

China’s Ambassador to the United Nations Fu Cong made an important statement on his country’s position at a March 13 United Nations Security Council briefing on the Iranian nuclear issue.

Fu began by stating that: “China has just stated its position about the 1737 Committee and its opposition to this meeting and does not intend to comment on the work of the Committee itself. However, as a member of the Security Council, China wishes to emphasise the following points regarding the current situation surrounding the Iranian nuclear issue and the way forward.”

The 1737 Committee was established following the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1737 on December 23, 2006, which imposed sanctions on Iran.

Having stated this principled opposition, Fu made four key points as follow:

The use of force is not the right way to resolve international disputes. Iran’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity should be respected. The United States and Israel should immediately stop their military operations, refrain from attacking Iranian nuclear facilities under IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) safeguards, avoid further escalation, and prevent the conflict from spreading across the entire Middle East.

The Iranian nuclear issue should ultimately return to the track of a political and diplomatic solution. It was the United States unilateral withdrawal from the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) that triggered the Iranian nuclear crisis. The United States has also disregarded its own credibility and, together with Israel, twice resorted to the use of force against Iran during the negotiations, causing diplomatic efforts to collapse. Regarding the root cause of the Iranian nuclear crisis, the United States actions violate international law and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. China strongly condemns this. Relevant European countries should stop fuelling tensions and instead play a constructive role in easing the situation.

Fairness and justice must be upheld, and Iran’s right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, as a State Party to the Treaty on the NPT (nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty), must be effectively protected. Iran has repeatedly reaffirmed that it does not seek to develop nuclear weapons. Even after its nuclear facilities were attacked, Iran has continued cooperating with the IAEA and engaged in multiple rounds of professional and pragmatic talks with the United States in a constructive spirit. Iran’s sincerity should be taken seriously.

Any action by the Security Council should be aimed at easing tensions and preserving long-term peace and stability in the Middle East. It must be fair and impartial, and must not become a tool for sanctions, pressure, or the political agenda of any individual state. The Security Council should help build trust among parties, bridge differences, and create favourable conditions for the resumption of negotiations, ensuring that the dialogue process can proceed smoothly and effectively in an environment free from the threat of force. Relevant countries should stop engaging in political manipulation at the Security Council.

Meanwhile, on March 17, at a regular press conference in Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that China has decided to offer emergency humanitarian assistance to Iran, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq in the hope of easing the humanitarian plight faced by local people.

CGTN, China’s foreign language television service, put the following question to Lin:

China extends support to bereaved parents of Iranian schoolgirls

Following the bestial war crime committed by the United States on February 28, when it murdered at least 175 civilians, the overwhelming majority of them young schoolgirls, in its missile attack on the Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School in the southern Iranian town of Minab, the Red Cross Society of China has decided to provide the Red Crescent Society of Iran with US$200,000 in emergency humanitarian assistance as special funds to support the bereaved parents.

Announcing the measure at the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s March 13 press conference in Beijing, in response to a question from the Beijing Youth Daily, spokesperson Guo Jiakun added:

“China stands ready to continue providing necessary assistance to Iran in a humanitarian spirit to help the Iranian people get through this difficult time.”

Their exchange reads as follows:

Beijing Youth Daily: The US and Israel launched military strikes on Iran on February 28. Media reports say that air strikes on Shajarah Tayyebeh primary school in Iran’s Hormozgan province killed over 160 girls. Is China considering providing humanitarian assistance to Iran?

Guo Jiakun: China condemns all indiscriminate attacks against civilians and non-military targets. Attacks on schools and harm to the children, in particular, seriously violate the international humanitarian law and breach the fundamental principles of human conscience. We deeply mourn for the students from Shajarah Tayyebeh primary school in Iran’s Hormozgan province and extend sincere sympathies to their families. The Red Cross Society of China has decided to provide the Red Crescent Society of Iran with US$200,000 in emergency humanitarian assistance as special funds to support the bereaved parents. China stands ready to continue providing necessary assistance to Iran in a humanitarian spirit to help the Iranian people get through this difficult time.

The full press conference can be read here. A related report was carried by the Xinhua News Agency.

Palestine Chronicle: China condemns US-Israeli aggression, backs Tehran’s sovereignty

In the following article, originally published on March 6, the staff of Palestine Chronicle summarise diplomatic responses to date by the People’s Republic of China to the US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran.

It notes that that day Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that Beijing supports Tehran in defending its sovereignty and rights:

“China opposes the US and Israel launching military strikes against Iran in violation of international law.”

She added that: “We support Iran in safeguarding its sovereignty, security, territorial integrity and national dignity and in upholding its legitimate and lawful rights and interests.”

Palestine Chronicle adds that: “Chinese state media and diplomatic officials have repeatedly emphasised that the strikes were carried out without authorisation from the United Nations Security Council, a point Beijing views as a clear violation of international norms.”

The article also refers to Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s related conversations with regional ministers, the most recent of which were with his counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, adding that:

“China’s UN mission has repeatedly stressed that sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected under international law, and that continued strikes could trigger unpredictable consequences across the Middle East.”

The article was published prior to Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s March 8 press conference in the margins of the annual session of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC).

China Backs Iran’s Sovereignty

China has strongly condemned the US-Israeli military aggression against Iran, warning that the attacks violate international law and threaten to escalate the conflict across the Middle East.

Speaking during a press briefing on Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Beijing supports Tehran in defending its sovereignty and rights.

While the US pursues war and hegemony, China pursues peace and progress

On Friday 6 March, Friends of Socialist China co-editor Carlos Martinez appeared on the Empire Watch live stream, hosted by Ileana Chan, Sara Vivacqua and João Amorim.

The wide-ranging conversation includes detailed discussion on the criminal US-Israeli war on Iran; how that war is reshaping the multipolar world order; China’s vision of peaceful coexistence; a comparison of the US and China’s military posture; China’s 15th Five-Year Plan; its newly-announced GDP growth target of 4.5 to 5 percent; and the Kenyan state’s illegal detention and torture of Comrade Booker Ngesa Omole.

The full stream is embedded below, followed by a selection of thematic extracts.

China’s diplomacy condemns aggression and pushes for peace

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has repeated his country’s condemnation of the US-Israeli aggression against Iran and stressed that China stands for peace in a number of diplomatic exchanges.

Following his March 1 phone conversation with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, the following day Wang spoke with the foreign ministers of Iran, Oman and France.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi briefed Wang Yi on the latest developments of the situation of Iran, noting that the US has launched war against Iran for the second time during their ongoing negotiations. Though the two sides have made positive progress in the latest round of negotiations, the US action violates all international laws and treads and even crosses the red line of Iran. The Iranian side has no choice but to defend itself at all costs. China has made public its voice for fairness and justice, and Iran hopes that China will continue playing a proactive role in preventing the escalation of tensions in the region.

Wang Yi noted that China values the traditional friendship between China and Iran and supports Iran in safeguarding its sovereignty, security, territorial integrity and national dignity and in upholding its legitimate and lawful rights and interests. He said that China has urged the US and Israel to immediately cease military actions to avoid further escalation of tensions and prevent the conflict from expanding and spreading to the entire Middle East region. China believes that under the current grave and complex situation, Iran will maintain its national and social stability, take seriously the legitimate concerns of neighbouring countries, and ensure the safety of Chinese citizens and institutions in Iran. (At least one Chinese citizen has so far been killed as a result of US-Israeli aggression.)

In his conversation with his Chinese counterpart, Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi noted that under Oman’s mediation, Iran-US negotiations made unprecedented progress, yet regrettably, the US and Israel have cast aside the existing outcomes of the talks and launched a war. If the war continues, it will lead to more casualties and property losses. All parties should work together for an early ceasefire.

Wang Yi said that China appreciates Oman’s active mediation in advancing the negotiations between Iran and the US and its tremendous efforts for safeguarding regional peace. Despite progress in the talks, the US and Israel deliberately provoked a war against Iran, which clearly violates the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

Regarding the spillover of the conflict to states in the Persian Gulf that harbour aggressive US military bases, Wang Yi pointedly noted that China expects that Gulf states will enhance their independence, oppose external interference, develop good neighbourliness, and strengthen solidarity and coordination, so as to truly hold their future firmly in their own hands.

In his call with Wang Yi, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot shared his country’s perspective on the current situation in the Middle East, underscoring that France and China, both permanent members of the UN Security Council, have special responsibility for upholding international peace and security. The US and Israel did not seek the opinions from the UN Security Council regarding their military action against Iran, nor did they obtain authorisation from the Council. All parties should work together to de-escalate the tensions and resolve such issues as the Iranian nuclear issue through negotiation. China has maintained good relations with both Iran and other Gulf states. France looks forward to joining hands with China to proactively ease the situation in the region.

Wang Yi reiterated China’s principled position, stressing that the international community should reject any act that violates international law and refrain from applying double standards. Major countries must not be allowed to attack others at will with their military might, nor should the world revert to the law of the jungle. China hopes that France will uphold an objective and just position, remain calm and rational, and work with China to de-escalate the situation, jointly safeguarding the basic norms of international relations.

On March 3, Wang Yi spoke with the foreign minister of the Zionist entity Gideon Sa’ar.

Wang pointed out that recent negotiations between Iran and the US had been making notable progress, which also took into account Israel’s security concerns. Regrettably, this process has been disrupted by military strikes. China opposes such strikes launched by Israel and the US against Iran. The use of force cannot truly solve problems. China calls for immediate cessation of military actions to prevent the conflict from further escalating and spiraling out of control. Wang further called on Israel to take concrete measures to ensure the safety and security of Chinese personnel and institutions.

Why isn’t China intervening to stop the US war of aggression against Iran?

The following brief article by Brian Berletic, originally published on his Twitter/X, addresses a question that has been raised by some anti-imperialist commentators since the launch of the criminal US-Israeli war on Iran: why has China not directly intervened militarily to stop this aggression. Berletic argues that the answer lies primarily in structural and military realities rather than political will.

First, he explains that, in stark contrast to the US, China’s military doctrine focuses on defending its own borders and deterring threats along its periphery. As a result, it lacks the logistical infrastructure and global deployment capacity necessary to intervene in a distant conflict such as a war in West Asia.

Second, he highlights the extensive regional military network the US has spent decades building around Iran. This includes bases, logistics hubs, air defence systems and political alliances with multiple regional states, as well as military occupations in Iraq and Syria. To directly counter a US military operation in this environment, China would need a comparable network of bases and alliances in the region – something it neither possesses nor seeks to establish.

Third, he argues that China deliberately avoids building influence through military domination or occupation, which differentiates its foreign policy from that of the US. Attempting to match Washington’s global military posture would require a fundamentally different approach to foreign relations.

Instead, Berletic suggests China’s support for Iran takes less direct and obvious forms: economic cooperation to mitigate sanctions, technological assistance for domestic defence production, and supplies of military equipment.

He concludes that the constraints facing China – and similarly Russia – reflect practical limits rather than indifference, warning that blaming them for US actions ultimately deflects responsibility from Washington.

Why isn’t China intervening to stop the US war of aggression against Iran?

Somehow this is still a question people are asking, so I will explain.

China’s military is built to defend China within and along its borders against a massive and growing US military build-up all along its peripheries ongoing for decades.

Its forces are organized around hardware designed specifically for this purpose – not to project military power around the globe like the US does – and the US has these capabilities because it is an aggressor – not for national defense.

China literally has no ability to project the military power required to confront and successfully stop a full-scale US war of aggression on the other side of the planet with the capabilities it has for national defense;

In order to launch this war on Iran – the US spent decades building up a network of global and regional bases, logistical networks, ammunition depots, fuel dumps, regional integrated air defense capabilities etc. to first encircle Iran – then attack it.

China would be required to create an equal or greater network throughout the region to stop this- and this simply isn’t possible;

The US built its network up through both politically capturing nations in the region (Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, UAE, Kuwait) and invading/occupying them (Iraq & Syria).

China simply doesn’t conduct its foreign policy this way – because if it did – it would be just as bad as the US itself;

If you think China could simply project military power over the horizon – this is even more difficult and unrealistic. This requires huge amounts of long-range aircraft, immense aerial refueling capabilities, and long-range munitions as well as forward bases at least near the region to do so.

Sending naval vessels would simply place them at the mercy of a better prepared and more extensive military positions the US has established over decades as explained above;

What China has likely done is all that it could do – provide economic support against illegal US sanctions, provide technical/material support for Iran’s military industrial production, provide military support through the transfer of weapons and equipment.

All of these have their limits especially in terms of the transfer of military equipment to Iran – which takes YEARS to train Iranian personnel on EFFECTIVELY, as well as to integrate it through training in modern combined arms operations.

This last point regarding the amount of time it takes to effectively integrate new military hardware into a military is exactly why Ukraine has failed to absorb and fully utilize floods of Western weapons and equipment in the US proxy war on Russia being waged there.

CONCLUSION

There are real-world limitations on what nations like Russia and China can do against US wars of aggression elsewhere especially considering the fact the US is waging proxy war on both Russia and China at the same time it wages direct war on Iran.

Russia and China are doing what is realistic and within their capabilities – and are constantly expanding their own capabilities in order to do more when possible.

Do not confuse real limitations with a lack of concern or will – and realize blaming Russia or China for a US WAR OF AGGRESSION simply serves Washington’s agenda – not Iran’s or any of its allies.

China firmly opposes and strongly condemns killing of Iran’s supreme leader

China has expressed its firm opposition to and strong condemnation of the brazen US and Israeli aggression against Iran and the murder of the country’s supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

In an immediate reaction, following the start of the aggression on February 28, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that China is highly concerned over the military strikes against Iran launched by the US and Israel, adding that Iran’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity should be respected.

The same day, the United Nations Security Council met in emergency session in New York.

Ambassador Fu Cong said: “Today, the United States and Israel brazenly launched military strikes against targets inside Iran, causing a sudden escalation of regional tensions. China is deeply concerned about this development. China consistently advocates that all parties should abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and opposes and condemns the use or threat of force in international relations. China stresses that the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of Iran and other regional countries must be respected.”

Speaking on a day when a US-Israeli air strike in the south of Iran hit a primary school, killing at least 148 people, the majority of them schoolgirls, and injuring at least 95 others, Fu added:

“China is deeply saddened by the large number of civilian casualties caused by the conflict. At all times, the red line for protecting civilians in armed conflict must not be crossed, and the indiscriminate use of force is unacceptable.”

He also stated that: “China calls for an immediate cessation of military actions to prevent further cycles of escalation. The military strikes occurred at a time when the US and Iran were engaged in diplomatic negotiations, which is shocking. The parties concerned should demonstrate political sincerity, resume dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible, and return to the right track of a political solution.”

On March 1, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated that, “China firmly opposes and strongly condemns the attack and killing of Iran’s supreme leader.”

The attack and killing of Iran’s supreme leader is a grave violation of Iran’s sovereignty and security, said the spokesperson, adding that it tramples on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and basic norms in international relations.

On the same day, Foreign Minister Wang Yi discussed the situation in a telephone call with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

Wang said that it is unacceptable for the United States and Israel to launch strikes on Iran during the Iran-US negotiations, adding that it is also unacceptable for them to blatantly kill the leader of a sovereign state and incite government change. These actions violate international law and basic norms of international relations.

Wang summarised China’s position in three points:

An immediate cessation of military operations.
A prompt return to dialogue and negotiations.
A joint opposition to unilateral actions. Striking sovereign countries without authorisation of the UN Security Council undermines the foundation of peace established after World War II. The international community should send a clear message against any regression to the law of the jungle.

Sergei Lavrov said that Russia shares the same position with China and stands ready to strengthen coordination and communication with the Chinese side to send a clear signal through platforms such as the UN and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, calling for an immediate cessation of the war and a return to diplomatic negotiations.

The following articles were originally published by the Xinhua News Agency and on the website of China’s Permanent Mission to the UN.

China reaffirms backing for Iran

China has reiterated its support for Iran’s right to safeguard its sovereignty, security, and national dignity as well as its legitimate rights and interests.

The Tehran Times newspaper reported this, on February 6, noting that this was stated by Assistant Foreign Minister Miao Deyu in a meeting with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi who was visiting Beijing.

Miao underlined that China is opposed to unilateral bullying and coercion in international relations and to interference in other countries’ internal affairs.

The Iranian diplomat, in turn, briefed his Chinese counterpart on the developments in Iran as well as issues related to Iran’s nuclear program. He underlined that Tehran remains committed to resolving issues through diplomatic channels and would like to move forward with negotiations based on fairness and justice. He said Iran is opposed to foreign threats and pressure and praises China’s role in maintaining regional and international peace and stability.

Whilst in Beijing, Gharibabadi also met with Nurlan Yermekbayev, Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), of which Iran is a member.

The following article was originally published by Tehran Times.

TEHRAN – China has reiterated its support for Iran’s entitlement to safeguard its sovereignty, security, and national dignity as well as its legitimate rights and interests.

That was announced by Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Miao Deyu in a meeting with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi in the Chinese capital, Beijing.

During the talks, the Chinese diplomat noted that his country closely monitors developments in Iran.

He underlined that China is opposed to unilateral bullying and coercion in international relations and interference in other countries’ internal affairs. He said China is willing to boost engagement and cooperation with all parties, including Iran, so that the principles of the UN Charter as well as fundamental norms ruling international relations would be respected and international justice would prevail.

The Iranian diplomat, in turn, briefed his Chinese counterpart on the developments in Iran as well as issues related to Iran’s nuclear program. Gharibabadi underlined that Tehran remains committed to resolving issues through diplomatic channels and would like to move forward with negotiations based on fairness and justice. He said Iran is opposed to foreign threats and pressure and praises China’s role in maintaining regional and international peace and stability.

The visiting Iranian diplomat also held a separate meeting with Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Nurlan Yermekbayev.

During the talks, the two sides discussed current priorities of the organization for the year 2026 and traded views on the arrangements for a plenary session of the SCO in the fall. They further discussed the implementation of Iran’s initiative in the domains of transportation, economy, energy and other fields.

The SCO chief, for his part, said the motto “achieving peace, stability, common development and welfare” proposed by the SCO’s rotating president is of utmost significance.

China extends support to Iran

China has underlined its support for, and friendship with, Iran in the context of the current tense situation caused by externally instigated and fuelled riots and attempts at destabilisation, which are in turn used as the pretext for threatening the country with overt external aggression.

In a January 15 phone call with Foreign Minister Wang Yi, his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi explained that the recent unrest in his county was incited by external forces and that the situation has now stabilised. He said that Iran is prepared to respond to external interference, while keeping the door open for dialogue, and expressed hope that China will play a greater role in promoting regional peace and stability.

Wang Yi said that China opposes the use or threat of force in international relations, opposes imposing one’s own will on others, and opposes a return of the world to the law of the jungle. China believes that the Iranian government and people will stand united, overcome difficulties, maintain national stability and safeguard their legitimate rights and interests. He reiterated China’s willingness to play a constructive role in the current situation.

The following article was originally published on the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry. Useful background can be found in this interview of Professor Seyed Marandi with George Galloway.

On January 15, 2026, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi.

Seyed Abbas Araghchi briefed Wang Yi on the latest developments in the situation in Iran, stressing that the recent unrest in Iran was incited by external forces and that the situation has now stabilized. He said that Iran is prepared to respond to external interference, while keeping the door open for dialogue, and expressed hope that China will play a greater role in promoting regional peace and stability.

Wang Yi stated that China consistently advocates for adherence to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, opposes the use or threat of force in international relations, opposes imposing one’s own will on others, and opposes a return of the world to the law of the jungle. China believes that the Iranian government and people will stand united, overcome difficulties, maintain national stability and safeguard their legitimate rights and interests. Wang Yi expressed hope that all parties will cherish peace, exercise restraint, and resolve differences through dialogue. China is ready to play a constructive role to this end.

Chinese scholar says resistance is only viable approach but patience is needed

The following is the text of an interview conducted by the Tehran Times with Chinese scholar Professor Jin Liangxiang on the sidelines of the recent Conference on People’s Rights and Legitimate Freedoms in the Thoughts of Ayatollah Khamenei.

Professor Jin notes that: “The Americans like to talk about liberal democracy and, when doing so, they link it to human rights. They even intervene in the domestic affairs of countries in the Middle East – such as Iran and many others – in the name of humanitarian concerns.

“But in Gaza and Palestine, we have witnessed atrocities committed by Israel, resulting in more than 70,000 deaths. In this regard, the Americans have turned a blind eye. So, I believe the United States is not in a position to lecture others about liberal democracy or to intervene under the banner of humanitarianism.”

Responding to a question on different perceptions of people’s rights and freedoms, he stresses that resistance is the only way out:

“When we talk about freedom, we must begin with justice. The most serious challenge to justice in the region is hegemony and power politics. Therefore, resistance becomes the only viable approach to achieving justice.

“We should not assume that hegemonic powers will make concessions on their own. Those policies will not disappear by themselves. The only way to deliver justice is through resistance. Even though the Middle East has experienced some changes in recent years, as long as oppression exists, resistance will continue.”

However: “The evolution of the international order will be a long process. People across the region – not only Iranians – do not accept hegemony. But weakening hegemonic structures and transforming the global order will take time… So, patience is required. BRICS is developing strong momentum and is expanding with new members. It will need time for internal integration, improving mechanisms, and organising resources. But it will become an important mechanism in shaping the future international order, playing a growing role not only financially but also politically and in the security arena.”

Jin is a senior research fellow at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies (SIIS) as well as a nonresident senior fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, based in Doha, Qatar.

The following article was originally published by Tehran Times. A video of the interview may be viewed here.

China continues to back Iran-Saudi rapprochement

Demonstrating the continued upward momentum in relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, since China facilitated their resumption of relations on March 10, 2023, as well as the continuing role played by China to encourage the building of a united front among the countries of the region to address their common challenges, the third meeting of the China-Iran-Saudi Arabia Trilateral Joint Committee was held in the Iranian capital Tehran on December 9.

The meeting was chaired by Deputy Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran Majid Takht Ravanchi, with the participation of the Chinese delegation headed by Vice Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China Miao Deyu and the Saudi Arabian delegation headed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Eng. Waleed bin Abdulkarim Al-Khuraiji.

A joint statement issued by the three countries said that Iran and Saudi Arabia reaffirmed their commitment to all provisions of the Beijing Agreement, and pledged continued adherence to the United Nations Charter, the Charter of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and international law, and their efforts to consolidate good-neighbourly and friendly relations between the two countries on the basis of respecting national sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence and security. Iran and Saudi Arabia welcomed the continued positive role of China and held that China’s support and follow-up to the implementation of the Beijing Agreement is of great importance.

The three countries welcomed the continuous progress in Iran-Saudi Arabia relations, which provides opportunities for direct exchanges between Iran and Saudi Arabia at all levels and across all sectors. The current escalation of regional tensions poses a threat to both regional and global security. Against this backdrop, it is very important for senior officials from Iran and Saudi Arabia to engage in contacts, meetings, and mutual visits. The participating parties welcomed the progress made in consular cooperation between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which enabled more than 85,000 Iranian pilgrims to perform Hajj, and more than 210,000 Iranian pilgrims to perform Umrah rituals with ease and security in 2025.

They also called for an immediate end to Israel’s actions that infringe upon Palestine, Lebanon and Syria, and condemned the infringement on Iran’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Iranian side appreciated China and Saudi Arabia for taking a clear stance on the aforementioned acts of aggression. The three countries also reaffirmed their support for a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni issue in accordance with internationally recognised principles under the auspices of the United Nations.

The previous day, Vice Foreign Minister Miao Deyu met with Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Majid Takht Ravanchi.

Miao Deyu said that in 2026, the two countries will celebrate the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership. China is ready to take this opportunity, together with Iran, to further implement the important common understandings reached by the two heads of state and promote greater development of the China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership. China looks forward to working with Iran and Saudi Arabia to ensure the success of the upcoming meeting of the joint committee, injecting more positive factors into regional peace, stability and development.

China and Iran consolidate ties in face of US-Israeli aggression

A Chinese international relations scholar has outlined the broad prospects for further consolidation and development of bilateral friendly relations with Iran.

Writing in the Tehran Times on August 4, Dr. Jin Liangxiang, Senior Fellow at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies (SIIS), noted that China-Iran mutual political trust has reached a new and higher level since last October’s meeting between the two heads of state on the sideline of the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia.

When Iran faced outright aggression from Israel and the United States in June, China promptly expressed its solidarity, with President Xi Jinping putting forward a four-point peace proposal, Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaking with his Iranian counterpart twice within 12 days, and introducing a resolution for an immediate ceasefire in the United Nations Security Council, together with Russia and Pakistan.

Dr. Jin further notes that China and Iran, as two great nations with ancient civilisations, have long histories of resilience in the face of adversity and crisis. This shared legacy has fostered a deep-rooted aspiration for independence within their national identities – an outlook that leaves little room for illusions about Western hegemonic power.

However: “There used to be illusions for so-called Western liberal democracy in the two countries, which took it for granted that human rights would be protected. Some even had illusions that non-Western countries like China and Iran could be treated fairly, their legitimate rights could be regarded and national dignity could be respected.”

But US support for and European countries’ silence in regard to Israel’s genocide in Palestine, among other issues, had manifested fully the hypocritical nature of the policies of the West. “The illusions of the two [countries], though never mainstream, for the West had been shattered.”

As a result, as more people return to a realistic understanding of global dynamics, both nations are becoming increasingly resolute in advancing their relationship.

The relationship has been further institutionalised through the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and BRICS. “Iran’s membership in the two institutions had greatly enhanced the legitimacy of the two institutions.”

Jin also points out that: “China has grown much more mature and confident in resisting America’s political and economic pressures. China and the US had conducted three rounds of negotiations on tariff issue respectively in Geneva, London and Stockholm from May to July 2025. No evidence suggested that China will make concessions facing US bluffing. China’s confidence in its face-off with the US will certainly be good news for China-Iran trade relations in short and long terms.”

Meanwhile, on July 30, Tehran Times reported Brigadier-General Mohammad Ahadi, Chief of Defence Diplomacy and International Relations of the Iranian Armed Forces, as stating: “I consider it necessary to acknowledge the fair positions of the Chinese government and other governments that, without fear of the hegemonic power of the West, took the lead in condemning the acts of aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

He made the remarks at the Chinese Embassy in Tehran during a reception the previous day marking the 98th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

Iran and the new cold war

The following article by Carlos Martinez, originally published in the Morning Star, argues that the criminal Israeli-US strikes on Iran are not credibly rooted in concerns over the latter’s alleged nuclear weapons program, but rather in its consistent anti-imperialist stance and its far-reaching material support for the cause of Palestinian freedom.

The article also links the attacks to broader geopolitical dynamics, especially Iran’s deepening alliance with China. Since signing a 25-year cooperation agreement with China in 2021, Iran has become integral to the Belt and Road Initiative, in addition to joining BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and emerging as China’s primary trading partner in West Asia.

This growing partnership makes Iran a strategic obstacle to US-led imperialism, especially in the context of the New Cold War against China. Carlos draws parallels with the 1953 coup against Iran’s Prime Minister Mossadegh, orchestrated by the CIA and MI6 to protect Western oil interests in the context of the original Cold War.

Today, the New Cold War, centred on US efforts to encircle and contain the People’s Republic of China, is adding urgency to the US’s bid for regime change in Iran. Iran’s deepening integration into the Belt and Road Initiative, and its close coordination with China and Russia, mark it as a frontline state in the struggle between the Project for a New American Century and the Global Community of Shared Future…

The installation of a US proxy regime in Tehran would be a major blow to the Belt and Road Initiative, and it would potentially compromise China’s energy security, giving the US de facto control over the flow of oil and other resources through the Persian Gulf.

The article concludes by urging Western anti-war movements to oppose this escalating campaign to preserve and expand imperialist hegemony.

There has been a great deal of speculation as to the reasons for the criminal Israeli-US attack on Iran.

The reason proffered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump is that Iran is on the cusp of acquiring a nuclear weapon, and that therefore the forcible dismantling of its nuclear infrastructure is a matter of great urgency.

Obviously, no reasonable person believes this; certainly nobody who remembers Tony Blair’s cynical 2003 claim that Iraq could deploy weapons of mass destruction within 45 minutes.

After all, Netanyahu first publicly accused Iran of developing nuclear weapons back in 1992 – 33 years ago – when, in a speech to the Knesset as Deputy Foreign Minister, he declared that Iran was three to five years away from acquiring a nuclear weapon and argued for preemptive action.

Netanyahu was later subjected to widespread mockery in September 2012 when, holding up a cartoonish drawing of a bomb during his speech at the UN, he claimed that Iran was 90 percent of the way to the level of uranium enrichment needed for weaponisation.

Meanwhile, Iran continues to deny seeking nuclear weapons and is a longstanding signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). The country’s government maintains a strict edict against the development, production, stockpiling and use of nuclear weapons or indeed any weapons of mass destruction – contrasting rather starkly with Israel, an undeclared nuclear weapons state and non-signatory to the NPT. Furthermore, there has been no credible intelligence validating Netanyahu and Trump’s claims about Iran’s weapons program.

Wang Yi speaks with counterparts from Iran and Türkiye

Chinese Foreign Minister continued his round of telephone diplomacy regarding the critical situation in West Asia caused by US-Israeli aggression with calls with his Iranian and Turkish counterparts on June 24.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi briefed Wang Yi on the latest developments in the regional situation, emphasising that the dangerous actions by Israel and the United States in attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities seriously violate international law, leaving Iran with no choice but to respond. Although a ceasefire has just been reached between Iran and Israel, the situation remains unstable. Genuine negotiations can only begin once Israel halts its aggression. The session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has condemned the actions of the United States and Israel and expects the Security Council to play a role in this matter. He appreciated China’s understanding and support for Iran’s legitimate position and expressed willingness to maintain close communication with China.

Wang Yi referred to the four proposals recently advanced by President Xi Jinping and added:

After the US attacked Iran, China immediately condemned the action. Military strikes on nuclear facilities under the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency severely violate the purposes of the United Nations (UN) Charter and international law and may lead to nuclear leaks or even nuclear disasters, which should be opposed by the international community.

He said that China supports Iran’s efforts to safeguard national sovereignty and security, and on that basis [emphasis added by us], to achieve a real ceasefire, restore normal life for the people, and help deescalate the situation in the Middle East as soon as possible. China commends the OIC’s unified voice for a ceasefire and an end to the hostilities, as well as the advancement of peace.

In his call with Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Wang Yi said that Israel and the United States have used force against Iran on the grounds of “potential future threats”, which has seriously violated international law and infringed upon Iran’s sovereignty. The US airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities under the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency set a bad precedent and threaten the international nuclear non-proliferation regime. China opposes the use of force to settle disputes and always stands on the side of peace, dialogue, and international justice.

He emphasised that the question of Palestine remains at the heart of the Middle East issue and added that China supports Türkiye in hosting and convening the session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, urging all parties to send a unified voice opposing war, supporting peace, and calling for deescalation of conflicts.

Hakan Fidan stated that since the outbreak of the conflict between Israel and Iran, Türkiye has been committed to promoting a ceasefire and an end to the hostilities, advocating for dialogue and negotiations. The current ceasefire agreement between the two sides brings some hope. The attacks on nuclear facilities under the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency violate international law and may lead to catastrophic consequences such as nuclear leaks. If Israel wants to safeguard its security, it should accept the two-State solution and stop the humanitarian disaster in Gaza. Maintaining one’s own security at the expense of other nations’ security is unsustainable and may lead to more and wider conflicts.

The following articles were originally published on the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Wang Yi Has a Phone Call with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi

June 24 (MFA) — On June 24, 2025, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi.

Seyed Abbas Araghchi briefed Wang Yi on the latest developments in the regional situation, emphasizing that the dangerous actions by Israel and the United States in attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities seriously violate international law, leaving Iran with no choice but to respond. Although a ceasefire has just been reached between Iran and Israel, the situation remains unstable. Genuine negotiations can only begin once Israel halts its aggression. The session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has condemned the actions of the United States and Israel, and expects the Security Council to play a role in this matter. He appreciated China’s understanding and support for Iran’s legitimate position and expressed willingness to maintain close communication with China. Iran looks forward to China’s greater role in easing the situation.

Victor Gao: China deplores Israel’s attack on Iran

In the following interview on Al Arabiya, broadcast on 18 June 2025, prominent Chinese scholar Victor Gao, Vice President of the Center for China and Globalization, gives a powerful critique of the Israeli-US aggression against Iran.

Noting that China has excellent relations with Iran, and that China respects Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, Gao states that China does not recognise the extraterritoriality of any country’s unilateral sanctions against another country, and therefore does not accept the US’s sanctions against Iran. He goes on to clearly reiterate the Chinese government’s position in relation to Israel’s criminal aggression, pointing out that Israel violated international law, unilaterally launching a war against a sovereign country.

China really deplores Israel’s military attack on nuclear facilities inside Iran and considers it a very serious offence against world peace and security.

While condemning Israel’s aggression, Gao notes that Iran’s military response is justified and legitimate, as a defence of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Victor Gao also points to the outrageous hypocrisy of Israel’s supposed justification for its aggression, that is, that Iran is attempting to develop nuclear weapons. Given that Israel itself possesses nuclear weapons, and that it has never signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, this accusation is a blatant double standard. “I don’t think there’s a higher level of double standards and hypocrisy than that.”

Commenting on US president Trump’s suggestion that the US might assassinate the Iranian leadership, Gao opines that “assassination of heads of state, political or military leaders, or religious figures is unacceptable in today’s world”. As such, he urges the US to maintain a minimum level of decency in its international relations, and to use its influence to de-escalate the situation rather than inflame it.

China, Russia and Pakistan table UN resolution on Iran

Following the US bombing of nuclear sites in Iran, the United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting on Sunday, June 22, 2025.

Addressing the meeting, Chinese Ambassador Fu Cong said:

“Yesterday, the United States conducted attacks on three Iranian nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. China strongly condemns the US attacks on Iran and the bombing of nuclear facilities under the safeguards of the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency]. The actions of the United States seriously violate the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, as well as Iran’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity. They have exacerbated tensions in the Middle East and dealt a heavy blow to the international nuclear non-proliferation regime. The international community must uphold justice and make concrete efforts to cool down the situation and restore peace and stability.”

He then went on to make four appeals which are essentially the same as the Chinese position already put forward by President Xi Jinping in his June 19 telephone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russia, China, and Pakistan, the Ambassador said, have proposed a draft resolution calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, protection of civilians, respect for international law, and engagement in dialogue and negotiation.

The following is the full text of Ambassador Fu Cong’s remarks. They were originally published on the website of China’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations.

President,

I thank you for convening this emergency meeting. I also thank Secretary-General António Guterres for his statement and Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenča and Director General Rafael Grossi for their briefings.

Yesterday, the United States conducted attacks on three Iranian nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. China strongly condemns the US attacks on Iran and the bombing of nuclear facilities under the safeguards of the IAEA. The actions of the United States seriously violate the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, as well as Iran’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity. They have exacerbated tensions in the Middle East and dealt a heavy blow to the international nuclear non-proliferation regime. The international community must uphold justice and make concrete efforts to cool down the situation and restore peace and stability. In this connection, I wish to put forward four appeals.

First, we call for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the hostilities. In the context of the abrupt escalation of tensions in the Middle East, China is deeply concerned about the risk of the situation getting out of control. The parties to the conflict, Israel in particular, should reach an immediate ceasefire to prevent a spiraling escalation and to resolutely avoid the spillover of the war. The parties concerned should abide by international law, curb the impulse to use force, and avoid exacerbating conflicts and adding fuel to the fire.

Second, we call for effective protection of civilians. The ultimate victims of all conflicts are the innocent people. China is deeply saddened by the large number of civilian casualties caused by the conflict. Civilians and the civilian facilities must not become targets of military operations, and the bottom line of international humanitarian law must not be breached. Parties to the conflict should place the interest and well-being of the people of the countries in the region above everything else, and make every effort to avoid harm to innocent civilians and refrain from attacking civilian facilities.

Third, we call for commitment to dialogue and negotiation. Peace in the Middle East cannot be achieved by the use of force. Dialogue and negotiation are the fundamental way out. At present, diplomatic means to address the Iranian nuclear issue have not been exhausted, and there is still hope for a peaceful solution. Parties should stay firmly committed to the political settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue and work to bring it back onto the track of a political solution through dialogue and negotiation, with a view to reaching an agreement acceptable to all parties.

Fourth, we call for swift actions by the Security Council. The Security Council shoulders the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. It cannot stand idly by in the face of a major crisis. Russia, China, and Pakistan have proposed a draft resolution calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, protection of civilians, respect for international law, and engagement in dialogue and negotiation. We hope that Council members can demonstrate their strong sense of responsibility by jointly supporting the draft resolution, to enable the Security Council to fulfill its responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.

China stands ready to work with the international community to foster synergy, uphold justice, and make unremitting efforts to restore peace and stability in the Middle East.

Thank you, President.