China Supports Iran in Safeguarding Sovereignty, Territorial Integrity: Beijing

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China supports Iran in safeguarding its sovereignty, security and territorial integrity during a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi.

Wang said China values its traditional friendship with Iran and backs Tehran in protecting its legitimate rights and interests. He also called on the U.S. and Israel to immediately cease military operations and prevent the conflict from spreading across the Middle East.

Araghchi said Washington had launched a war against Iran for the second time during ongoing negotiations. He said recent talks had made progress but described U.S. actions as violations of international law and Iran’s red lines.

“Iran has no choice but to defend itself with all its might,” Araghchi said, adding that he hopes China will continue to play a role in preventing further escalation.

Wang said China believes Iran can maintain stability and ensure the safety of Chinese citizens and institutions in the country. Araghchi responded that Iran would make every effort to guarantee their security.

The call comes amid reports of expanded China-Iran cooperation in defense and technology. According to the Russian Arms Telegram channel, this includes deployment of the YLC-8B radar, which can detect targets at long range and operate within an integrated air defense network alongside systems such as the S-300PMU-2 and HQ-9P. The reported framework also covers cybersecurity cooperation, intelligence coordination, and a shift from GPS to China’s BeiDou navigation system for military use.

A Chinese research vessel was also reported to have operated near the Sea of Oman before recent U.S. and Israeli strikes, possibly monitoring naval activity.

Additionally, China and Iran maintain close economic ties. Iran is a member of BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. More than 80% of Iran’s shipped oil in 2025 reportedly went to China, accounting for about 13.5% of China’s seaborne oil imports.