China has stated that it supports Iran in defending its sovereignty and urged the United States and Israel to immediately halt military operations, as tensions escalate across the Middle East.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has told Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in a phone call that Beijing supports Tehran in safeguarding its sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
Wang has urged Washington and Tel Aviv to avoid further escalation and prevent the conflict from spreading across the region.
In separate calls with Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi and France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, Wang has accused the United States (US) and Israel of violating the principles of the U.N. Charter and warned against what he described as a “regression to the law of the jungle.”
He said the Iranian nuclear issue should return to a political and diplomatic track and that China is prepared to play a constructive role at the U.N. Security Council.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has noted that Russia has not seen any evidence that Iran is developing nuclear weapons.
“We have not received any evidence that Iran is producing nuclear weapons. In fact, that was the main and only justification put forward for this war,” Lavrov has said, according to foreign media reports.
He has noted that the consequences of the attacks on Iran are being felt across the region, particularly in Arab countries that are bearing economic costs.
Lavrov has added that neighboring states are also facing the impact of casualties and property damage linked to the conflict.
He has further warned that “forces will emerge in Iran in favour of doing exactly what the Americans want to avoid – acquiring a nuclear bomb, because the U.S. doesn’t attack those who have nuclear bombs.”
Russia has repeatedly called for tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear program to be resolved through political and diplomatic means.
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