Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has arrived in Beijing for talks with Chinese officials, focusing on the escalating Middle East crisis. Lavrov's visit follows a red-carpet welcome, with photos shared by Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Beijing and Moscow have condemned the US and Israel over their actions in Iran, which has led to an energy crisis affecting China. As a significant importer of Iranian oil, China has criticized the US scheme to blockade vessels entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas.
US Pressure on Iran
According to Al Jazeera's Alan Fisher, the US aims to pressure Iran by blocking all incoming and outgoing traffic from Iranian ports. The US hopes that this pressure will prompt China, a major business partner of Iran, to persuade Iran to return to negotiations.
Lavrov recently spoke with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, emphasizing the importance of preventing further hostilities in the Middle East. Russia has expressed its readiness to assist in resolving the crisis, which it believes has no military solution.
China's Role in the Crisis
China has welcomed several leaders of countries affected by the war, including Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Chinese President Xi Jinping met with these leaders, while Vietnamese President To Lam is expected to visit China for a four-day trip.
Al Jazeera's Katrina Yu notes that China's approach to the crisis has been to call for restraint and negotiation, while also taking advantage of the situation to strengthen ties with states disenchanted with the US. China has presented itself as a reliable and stable partner, which appeals to many states.
US-China Tensions
US President Trump has threatened to impose a 50 percent tariff on Chinese goods if China provides military assistance to Iran. However, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun has denied reports that China is preparing to deliver new air defense systems to Iran, calling them 'completely fabricated'. Guo warned that China would take resolute countermeasures if the US insists on using this as an excuse to impose additional tariffs.
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