Beijing: China is standing firmly behind Iran in its efforts to defend its “sovereignty, security, and national dignity”, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Iran’s acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani during a phone call on Sunday, according to a statement from China’s foreign ministry.
During the conversation, Wang reiterated Beijing’s condemnation of the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31, labeling the strike as a violation of Iran’s sovereignty that threatens regional stability. Both Iran and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas have accused Israel of carrying out the attack that resulted in Haniyeh’s death.
Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for the killing, but the incident has raised concerns that the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip could escalate into a broader Middle Eastern war. In response, Iran has vowed to “harshly punish” Israel for the assassination.
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Wang expressed China’s concerns over the incident, stating that the killing of Haniyeh had “directly undermined the Gaza ceasefire negotiation process and threatened regional peace and stability.” He added that China supports Iran in defending its sovereignty and is committed to maintaining regional peace and stability, as well as keeping close communication with Tehran.
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In a related development, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has nominated Abbas Araqchi as the country’s new Foreign Minister. Araqchi previously served as Iran’s chief negotiator in nuclear talks from 2013 to 2021.
