China says it will safeguard Iran's rights

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Beijing on Wednesday that China was willing to “safeguard” Iran's legitimate rights and interests amid Tehran's war with the United States.

Wang said China was willing to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with Iran. He also said Beijing encouraged Iran and the United States to “stay rational and restrained”.

The talks took place one week before Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to travel to Washington to meet US President Donald Trump. The war in Iran is expected to be closely watched at the meeting, alongside issues including trade and competition over artificial intelligence.

China is a major economic partner of Iran and has sought a detente in the months-long conflict. Wang said Beijing did not want regional tensions to spill over into Yemen and the Red Sea.

The United Nations says recent fighting in Yemen between government forces and the Iran-backed Houthis has displaced more than 100,000 people inside the country while thousands have fled abroad.

Beijing this week rejected US media reports that Chinese entities supplied Tehran with satellite images of a military base housing US troops in Jordan before and after an Iranian strike killed three American soldiers. Trump has warned Beijing not to sell weapons to Iran, and Washington sanctioned three China-based satellite companies in May for enabling Iran's military operations.