Iran embassy attack: in Wang-Blinken call, China urges US to play constructive Middle East role

As US appeals to China to use influence over Iran, Beijing says the Gaza war must be ended as soon as possible

Phone call between top diplomats comes in aftermath of suspected Israeli bombing of Tehran’s embassy in Syria

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (right) and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi discussed the possibility of an Iranian strike on Israel in a phone call this week. Photo: AFP

Published: 7:30pm, 12 Apr 2024Updated: 9:46pm, 12 Apr 2024

In a phone call with his US counterpart Antony Blinken this week, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged Washington to play a “constructive role” in the Middle East, Beijing said on Friday.

Confirming the call on Thursday, the Chinese foreign ministry said Wang “expressed China’s strong condemnation” of a deadly attack Israel is accused of carrying out on the Iranian embassy in Syria earlier this month.

Wang also stressed the “inviolable” right to security of diplomatic institutions and the need to respect the sovereignty of Iran and Syria”, the ministry said.

The US State Department said earlier that Blinken used the call to ask Beijing to use its influence to dissuade Iran from striking Israel. Similar calls were made to his Turkish and Saudi Arabian counterparts, the department said.

In Beijing on Friday, ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning quoted Wang as saying it “is imperative that the Gaza conflict be brought to an end as soon as possible. China calls on all parties to the conflict to … cease fire immediately and to prevent a humanitarian crisis.