China calls for calm after top Iranian military leader killed in US air strike
- Beijing ‘highly concerned’ about escalating tensions in the Middle East and urges all sides, especially the US, to exercise restraint
- As conflict between Tehran and Washington worsens, observers expect Iran to move closer to China and Russia
The escalating tension between Iran and the United States was likely to bring Tehran, Beijing and Moscow closer as all three had disputes with Washington, observers said, but China would have limited scope as a mediator.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said that Beijing was “highly concerned” about the growing tensions in the Middle East, and that it opposed the use of force in international relations.
“China advocates that all parties should earnestly abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the basic norms of international relations,” Geng said in a press briefing on Friday. “We urge all parties concerned, especially the United States, to keep calm and exercise restraint and avoid a further escalation of tensions.”
The air strike was approved by US President Donald Trump, and top Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis was also killed in the attack.
