China Says Iran Can 'Manage the Situation' and Prevent Further Tensions

Following a phone call between Wang Yi, the Chinese Foreign Minister, and Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic, a senior Chinese official stated that he believes Iran can 'manage the situation well and remain safe from further regional turmoil' while also protecting its sovereignty and dignity. Reuters reports, citing Xinhua news agency, that Amir-Abdollahian told Wang that Iran is aware of regional tensions, is willing to exercise restraint, and does not intend to escalate tensions further. Wang reiterated Iran's claim that the launch of approximately 350 missiles and drones at Israel early Sunday was a 'limited' act carried out in self-defense. This attack was in retaliation for an alleged Israeli strike on a building near the Islamic Republic's embassy in Damascus, which resulted in the deaths of a senior IRGC official and other members of the IRGC. Wang condemned the Israeli attack and thanked the Islamic Republic for not targeting regional and neighboring countries during its attack on Israel. Xinhua reports that Wang also told Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, the Saudi Foreign Minister, that China is willing to cooperate with Riyadh to prevent further escalation of tensions in the Middle East. The Saudi Foreign Minister stated that Riyadh expects China to play an active and important role in this regard and expressed the country's willingness to strengthen communications and coordination with China to establish an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza. Faisal noted that Saudi Arabia 'fully' trusts China and is keen to pursue sustainable bilateral cooperation. Tensions in the Middle East have escalated as the Israeli army has committed to responding to the Islamic Republic's attack, and several countries have called for restraint. Since the missile attack on Saturday night, multiple countries have summoned Iranian ambassadors. In this context, Channel 12 in Israel reported that the country's war cabinet has decided to respond 'clearly and forcefully' to the missile and drone attack by the Islamic Republic on Saturday night. According to this report, Israel's response will carry the message that the country will not allow such a large-scale attack to 'go unanswered.' The report adds that another goal of the response will be to prevent the Islamic Republic from establishing the 'equation' it has sought in recent days. According to the Times of Israel, it seems that the war cabinet intends to prevent the normalization of direct attacks by the Islamic Republic on Israel if Israeli attacks on Iranian positions and interests continue in the future. Farhad Rezaei: The attack on Israel showed that the IRGC and the Islamic Republic are paper tigers. Blinken's consultations following the Islamic Republic's attack; the U.S. is engaged in diplomatic coordination. The Times of Israel: Hamas rejected each clause of the ceasefire and hostage release proposal. Concurrently with the suspension of inspectors' activities, Grossi expressed concern over attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities. Voice of America reports: Iraqis are concerned about retaliatory attacks from Israel.