China seeks to mediate as Iran-US conflict raises regional tensions

China is seeking to mediate between Iran and the United States as the ongoing conflict raises concerns over further instability across the Middle East.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Beijing was prepared to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with Tehran while safeguarding what he described as Iran’s legitimate rights and interests.

Wang made the remarks on Wednesday during a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Beijing.

“We encourage Iran and the US to stay rational and restrained,” Wang said, as quoted in reports of the meeting.

The talks form part of Beijing’s broader efforts to ease tensions between Tehran and Washington, with China maintaining strong economic ties with Iran.

Wang also expressed concern about the possibility of the conflict spreading to other parts of the region, particularly Yemen and the Red Sea.

“We do not wish to see regional tensions spilling over into Yemen and the Red Sea,” he said.

The warning comes amid renewed fighting in Yemen involving government forces and the Iran-backed Houthi movement. The United Nations says the recent violence has displaced more than 100,000 people within the country, while thousands of others have fled abroad.

The Iran-US conflict is also expected to feature prominently in discussions between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump during Xi’s anticipated visit to Washington next week.

The meeting is expected to cover several areas of disagreement between Beijing and Washington, including trade and competition over artificial intelligence.

Meanwhile, Beijing has rejected US media reports alleging that Chinese entities provided Tehran with satellite imagery of a military base housing US troops in Jordan before and after an Iranian strike that killed three American soldiers.

Trmp has previously warned China against supplying weapons to Iran.

In May, the United States imposed sanctions on three China-based satellite companies, accusing them of supporting Iran’s military operations.

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