Tehran is increasingly looking to Beijing as a key ally in resolving the continuing disaster of the U.S.-Israel war being waged against it. Chinese special envoy for Middle East affairs Zhai Jun visited Tehran on Nov. 8, meeting Ali Bagheri, deputy secretary of the Supreme National Security Council; Executive Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi; and Assistant Foreign Minister Alibek.

According to China’s Foreign Ministry readout of the meeting, which has been published only in Chinese, Zhai warned of the danger of the war spreading to new areas in the region, and declared that military force cannot solve the problem. He said that China is willing to uphold the series of initiatives and propositions put forward by President Xi Jinping dedicated to peace and stability in the Middle East, support countries in the region in developing good-neighborly and friendly relations, uphold a common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security concept, build a new regional security architecture, and promote lasting peace and stability in the region.

The Iranian side, according to the readout, said Tehran values ties with China and supports Xi’s global initiatives, appreciates its role in promoting peace and ending the war, and will defend its sovereignty while favoring dialogue and opposing external interference.