China Understands Iran's Attack on Israel as Self-Defense, Believes Tehran is Capable of Handling the Situation in the Middle East

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. (Wikimedia Commons/have a dream

JAKARTA - China understands Iran's attack on Israel as a form of its right to self-defense, when the foreign ministers of the two countries held a telephone conversation.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian that Beijing condemned the attack on the consulate building in the Iranian Embassy compound in Damascus, Syria according to a statement issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

"China has taken note of Iran's statement that the actions it has taken are limited and are a form of exercising its right to self-defense in response to the attack on the embassy building," said the statement, reported by CNN, April 16.

China's foreign minister added that the incident "severely violates international law and is unacceptable."

After briefing Foreign Minister Wang on Iran's position, Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian said Iran was aware of regional tensions, was willing to exercise restraint and had no intention of further escalation, quoted by Reuters.

"The current regional situation is very sensitive, and Iran is willing to exercise restraint and has no intention of worsening the situation," the statement added, citing Iranian Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian.

Seven Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officials were killed in an airstrike on the Iranian Consulate in Damascus, Syria, including two senior generals. Israel, which is said to be behind the attack, did not confirm or deny it.

In response, Iran launched airstrikes involving more than 300 drones and missiles last Saturday, causing minor damage in Israel and injuring a 7-year-old girl. Most of Iran's attacks were shot down by Israel's Iron Dome defense system and with help from the US, UK, France and Jordan's air defense which emphasized that it would shoot down missiles and drones fired by anyone who crossed its airspace.

The Bamboo Curtain country said it was confident that the Land of the Mullahs could "handle this situation well and avoid further turmoil in the region" while maintaining its sovereignty and dignity.

Separately, China's Special Envoy to the Middle East, Zhai Jun, met with Irit Ben-Abba Vitale, Israel's Ambassador to China, on Monday, where the Israeli Ambassador to China expressed Israel's position and concerns regarding the conflict in Gaza.

Ambassador Zhai said China was "deeply concerned about the current escalation of regional tensions, with conflict and bloodshed benefiting no one."