China supports Iran's response to 'Israel', calls for military co-op
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Iran's Defense Minister emphasizes in a meeting with his Chinese counterpart the importance of enhancing cooperation and convergence between both countries to work on security issues in the region and across the world.
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Iran's Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani shakes hands with his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun during a meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan, on April 26, 2024. (Iran's Defense Ministry)
Iran and China's defense chiefs discussed ways to elevate military cooperation between both countries and conferred on regional issues.
On the sidelines of the 21st meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states' defense ministers in Astana, Kazakhstan on April 26, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani met with his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun.
Ashtiani praised China's stance on the ongoing developments in the region and its condemnation of the Israeli attacks against the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria.
He emphasized the importance of enhancing cooperation and convergence between both countries to work on security issues in the region and across the world.
On the other hand, the Chinese Defense Minister condemned the Israeli attack on the Iranian embassy and stressed that it breached international law.
Dong further highlighted that China backs Iran's legitimate right to respond to "Israel."
He invited Ashtiani to a security conference in Beijing, further emphasizing the importance of elevated bilateral cooperation in the defense and military fields between both countries.
The Chinese defense chief also urged an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Not the first time
According to Chinese state media Xinhua, following phone discussions on April 16 between China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Iran said it was "willing to exercise restraint" following the retaliatory strikes on "Israel".
According to Xinhua, citing a readout, Amir-Abdollahian relayed to Wang that the United Nations Security Council "did not make a necessary response to this attack" as he referred to the April 1 Israeli aggression on the Iranian embassy in Syria and that "Iran has the right to self-defense in response to the violation of its sovereignty."
Amir-Abdollahian said his country was "willing to exercise restraint" with no intention of escalating tensions further given that the regional situation was "very sensitive".
Wang responded that China "strongly condemns and firmly opposes the attack" on the Iranian embassy and sees it as a "serious violation of international law and unacceptable."
Wang was cited as saying, "China appreciates Iran's stress on not targeting regional and neighboring countries as well as its reiteration on continuously pursuing a good-neighborly and friendly policy," adding, "It is believed that Iran can handle the situation well and spare the region further turmoil while safeguarding its own sovereignty and dignity."
