China Calls Iran ‘Special Partner’ in Middle East Affairs

Zhai praised Tehran's actions in the Middle East while condemning recent attacks by Israel on Iranian diplomatic premises in Syria.

These remarks were made on the sidelines of the Consultations of Deputy Foreign Ministers/Special Envoys of the BRICS group in Moscow.

Zhai highlighted Tehran's defense of Palestinian rights in response to Israeli aggression, as reported by Iran's official IRNA news agency.

China and Iran maintain robust economic ties despite facing US sanctions. Both countries have strengthened their relationship, particularly after the US reimposed sanctions on Iran following its withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal.

Their partnership was solidified in March 2021 with the signing of a 25-year agreement, outlining cooperation in various fields such as politics, culture, security, defense, and international affairs. The agreement was initially announced during President Xi's visit to Tehran in 2016.

In another development, Iran engaged in discussions with Russia regarding bilateral relations and regional matters. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Ali Bagheri Kani, met with Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister, Mikhail Bogdanov, to address these issues.

During a BRICS meeting, Bagheri Kani urged member states to intervene and halt Israeli aggression against Palestinians in Gaza. He stressed the importance of providing humanitarian aid to Gaza and called for the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the region.