China Stands by Iran Following Attack on Israel

During a phone call on Monday, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed condemnation of the alleged Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate compound on April 1 to Iranian FM Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. Wang reiterated China’s support for Iran’s right to self-defense and labeled the attack as a breach of international law, as reported by the Xinhua state news agency.

Iran responded on Saturday night by launching over 350 drones and missiles towards Israel, with 99 percent of them intercepted by Israel and its allies, including Jordan, the US, and the UK.

Wang also praised Iran’s decision not to target neighboring countries and appreciated Iran’s assertion that its actions were limited and in self-defense.

Commenting on Iran’s handling of the situation, Wang remarked that Iran had effectively managed to avoid further turmoil in the region while upholding its sovereignty and dignity.

Wang attributed the escalations to the ongoing Gaza war, which started with the Iran-backed Hamas invasion of Israel on October 7, resulting in the death of 1,200 civilians and the capture of over 250 hostages.

China continues to advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza by urging the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2728, citing the humanitarian crisis as justification for intervention. Hamas claims that over 32,000 people have died in the past six months.

Despite calls for a ceasefire, Israel has refused due to its objective of rescuing the hostages in Gaza and dismantling Hamas’s capabilities.

China’s recent show of support for Iran, including joint military exercises and defiance of US sanctions on Iranian oil exports, underscores its significant partnership with Tehran amid sanctions. This partnership is evident in China’s role as Iran’s largest oil customer, as well as in ongoing construction projects and trade links between the two nations.

However, amid shifting allegiances in the Middle East, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that Saudi Arabia, among other countries, provided crucial intelligence about Iran’s plans to attack Israel, which contributed to the effectiveness of the air defense measures that thwarted the attack.

Mohsen Sazegara, a US-based journalist and political activist, noted that this marks the first instance of Arab nations supporting Israel in a military operation against another Islamic country.