Beijing urges diplomacy amid escalating U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
On Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said China condemns the killing of Iranian National Security Council secretary Ali Larijani, who was assassinated during the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
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Born into a well-off family from Amol city, Larijani held a master’s degree in philosophy from the University of Tehran and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and computer science.
In February, before the start of the U.S.-Israeli offensive, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appointed Larijani as one of the officials responsible for managing the country in the event of his death.
At a Thursday press briefing, the Chinese diplomat Lin Jiang also addressed possible scenarios for the evolution of the Strait of Hormuz situation.
“The conflict is still raging in the Middle East and tensions continue to escalate and spill over. To help calm the situation and bring about peace, Special Envoy of the Chinese Government on the Middle East Issue Zhai Jun visited several countries in the region over the past few days,” Lin said.
Zhai exchanged assessments of the regional situation with diplomats from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait and Egypt, as well as with senior officials from the Gulf Cooperation Council and the League of Arab States.
“He elaborated on China’s position regarding the current situation, stressed that a ceasefire and an end to hostilities provide the fundamental solution, and urged parties to the conflict to immediately cease military operations and prevent the situation from descending into complete chaos,” Lin said.
“Zhai called for dialogue and negotiation and for resolving differences through political and diplomatic means. He pointed out that the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter should be upheld, that the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of GCC countries should be fully respected, that non-military targets should not be attacked, and that the safety of shipping lanes should not be disrupted. All parties have commended China’s position and efforts to promote peace and have looked to China to play a greater role,” the spokesperson added.
“China is a responsible major country and a sincere friend to countries in the region. Working for reconciliation and peace in the region is a cornerstone of China’s Middle East policy. Our mediation efforts will not cease as long as the conflict continues,” Lin concluded.
