April 16, 2024 (EIRNS)—Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi increased diplomatic efforts with Iran and Saudi Arabia yesterday, in phone discussion with his counterparts. In discussion with Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on the tensions with Israel, he made clear that China believes Iran could “handle the situation well and spare the region further turmoil while safeguarding its sovereignty and dignity,” according to Xinhua. Amir-Abdollahian explained that the UN Security Council had failed to deal with the April 1 attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria, which necessitated Iran’s counter. According to Xinhua, he assured Wang that Iran “is aware of the regional tensions, is willing to exercise restraint and has no intention of further escalations.”
Wang remarked that the current situation is “a spillover effect of the escalating conflict in Gaza,” and both agreed that the “pressing task now is to implement [UN] Security Council Resolution 2728 as soon as possible, achieve a ceasefire and end the fighting in Gaza, effectively protect civilians and prevent further aggravation of the humanitarian disaster.”
Both parties agreed to work conjointly for a “comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue.”
