As the Islamic Republic weathers U.S. and Israeli missile strikes on its infrastructure and the killing of key political figures, China remains on the sidelines, offering words and technical expertise rather than arms to its closest partner in the Middle East.
To be sure, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has strongly condemned the U.S.-Israeli intervention in Iran, calling it “unacceptable” for Washington to launch attacks amid ongoing negotiations with Tehran, “still less to blatantly attack and kill a leader of a sovereign country and instigate government change.