China Vows to Defend Iran’s Sovereignty as Tensions Rise with U.S.

 

BEIJING — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has issued a stern warning against the use of military force in the Middle East, pledging that Beijing will act as a diplomatic shield for Iran on the global stage.¹

The remarks, made during a high-level phone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday, come as the region faces renewed instability and a looming threat of international intervention.

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A Call for International Order

Wang Yi emphasized that the bedrock of global peace depends on a return to the core "rules of the game." He articulated three key pillars of China's current diplomatic stance:

• Adherence to the UN Charter: Wang stated that all countries must strictly follow the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law.⁴ He warned that ignoring these frameworks risks a breakdown of global stability.

• Ending the "Law of the Jungle": In a direct critique of recent military rhetoric, Wang declared that the world "should not return to an era of using force." He argued that "power politics" and unilateral threats are relics of the past that have no place in modern diplomacy.⁵

• Defending Iran’s Interests: Significantly, China pledged to defend Iran’s "legitimate and reasonable positions" in international forums. This includes active support within the UN Security Council, where Beijing holds a permanent veto.

The Backdrop: Rising Pressure from Washington

The conversation follows a week of escalating tensions after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested "very strong action" might be taken against Tehran in response to domestic unrest within Iran.⁶ Trump also recently threatened a 25% tariff on any country—including China—that continues to do business with the Islamic Republic.⁷

Beijing has dismissed these moves as "external interference."⁸ Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning earlier echoed Wang’s sentiments, stating that China supports the Iranian government’s efforts to maintain national stability and opposes the "use or threat of force" to influence the internal affairs of sovereign states.⁹

Deepening Strategic Ties

China remains Iran’s largest trading partner and a primary buyer of its oil.¹⁰ By framing its support through the lens of international law, Beijing is positioning itself as a "stabilizing force" against what it characterizes as erratic Western interventionism.

"China believes the Iranian government and people will unite to overcome current difficulties," Wang Yi noted, signaling that Beijing will not back down from its strategic partnership despite the threat of secondary sanctions.¹¹