Iran willing to exercise restraint, China told

China’s foreign minister held phone discussions with his Iranian counterpart, Beijing state media said yesterday, reporting that Iran was “willing to exercise restraint” after its first-ever attack on Israel’s territory.

Israel has vowed to respond to the unprecedented Iranian missile and drone strikes over the weekend, which have prompted appeals for de-escalation by world leaders fearing wider conflict.

The United States has repeatedly made public appeals for China to use its influence over Tehran to manage tensions in the region.

During the call, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian briefed Wang Yi on the April 1 attack on a consular annex of the Iranian embassy in Damascus, which Tehran says prompted its aerial assault, Xinhua said.

Amir-Abdollahian told Wang that the UN

Security Council “did not make a necessary response to this attack” and that “Iran has the right to self-defence in response to the violation of its sovereignty”.

Amir-Abdollahian said Iran was “willing to exercise restraint” and had no intention of further escalating tensions, adding the regional situation was “very sensitive”.

Wang said China “strongly condemns and firmly opposes the attack” on the Iranian consular annex and regards it as a “serious violation of international law and unacceptable”.

China noted Iran’s statement that, in response, it had taken limited action in “selfdefence”.

“China appreciates Iran’s stress on not targeting regional and neighbouring countries as well as its reiteration on pursuing a goodneighbourly and friendly policy, Wang said.

“It is believed that Iran can handle the situation well and spare the region further turmoil while safeguarding its sovereignty and dignity.”

Tehran’s Foreign Ministry said AmirAbdollahian briefed Wang on Iran’s “legitimate action” and “warned the White House” that further attacks on Iran’s interests or security would invite a “decisive, immediate and extensive” response.

China, historically sympathetic to the Palestinian cause, has been calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

“China is willing to maintain communication with the Iranian side and jointly push for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue,” Wang said.