China and Russia have called for urgent peace talks as tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin have condemned recent US-Israeli strikes on Iran, describing the attacks as a serious violation of international law and a threat to Middle East stability.
Speaking after talks in Beijing on Wednesday, both leaders issued a joint statement calling for an immediate end to the war and a return to diplomatic negotiations. They warned that the conflict could spread further if global powers fail to support de-escalation efforts.
The statement criticised what China and Russia called “treacherous military strikes” and accused the United States and Israel of undermining international norms. Beijing and Moscow also condemned attempts at regime change, political destabilisation and the assassination of sovereign leaders.
The growing China-Russia alignment comes as the conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel intensifies following joint strikes launched on February 28. China remains one of Iran’s biggest oil customers, while Russia has expanded military and economic ties with Tehran since the Ukraine war began.
During the meeting, Russia reaffirmed support for China’s “One China” policy on Taiwan, while Beijing backed Moscow’s position against what it described as foreign interference in Russian affairs.
The Beijing summit highlights deepening cooperation between China and Russia as both countries push for a diplomatic solution to the Iran conflict.