🔻Wang Yi, China’s foreign minister, said to Abbas Araqchi, his Iranian counterpart, in a phone call on Wednesday that his country is willing to “protect” Iran’s rights.

In a meeting with Abbas Araqchi, who is traveling to China, Wang said that China is “ready to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with Iran and protect Iran’s rights and legitimate interests.”

He added: “We encourage Iran and the United States to preserve rationality and restraint.”

China’s President Xi Jinping is expected to travel to Washington next week and meet with Donald Trump, the U.S. president.

According to Agence France-Presse, China, which is one of Iran’s main economic partners, has long been seeking de-escalation in the multi-month dispute in the Middle East—an escalation that has also extended to Iran’s neighboring countries.

Mr. Wang said: “We do not want to see the spread of regional tensions to Yemen and the Red Sea.”

China denied U.S. media reports this week saying that Chinese entities have “provided the Islamic Republic” with satellite images of a military base where U.S. forces are stationed in Jordan.

Three U.S. soldiers were killed in the attack.

📷IRNA