China on Monday called for an immediate ceasefire and a return to diplomatic negotiations as the Middle East conflict entered its third day and expanded across the region.
Israel and the United States have continued strikes on Iran and Lebanon, with hostilities spreading to neighbouring states.
“The most urgent task is an immediate cessation of military operations and preventing a spread and spillover of conflict,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a press conference, urging “a resolution through dialogue and negotiation".
She confirmed that one Chinese national had been killed in Tehran amid the strikes carried out by Israel and the United States – an operation that also resulted in the death of Iran’s supreme leader.
“The foreign ministry has instructed the Chinese embassy in Iran to provide assistance to the individual involved and the family,” Mao said, without disclosing further details.
Beijing had last week advised its citizens against travelling to Iran “in light of the current security situation”. More than 3,000 Chinese nationals have left Iran as of Monday, she added.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have vowed to launch the “most ferocious” operation in history against Israel and US bases in Gulf states, which have already suffered casualties from an unprecedented series of Iranian strikes.
Over the weekend, AFP correspondents reported hearing explosions in Doha, Dubai and Manama, underscoring the widening regional impact of the conflict.
