China steps up Middle East diplomacy with Iran and Oman meetings

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met senior Iranian security official Ali Bagheri Kani in Beijing and said dialogue and negotiation were the only viable path to resolving regional conflicts. Wang reaffirmed China’s support for Iran’s sovereignty and security, as Beijing blames the United States and Israel for starting the war. China also announced that its Middle East envoy, Zhai Jun, would visit Iran, Oman and Saudi Arabia this month. President Xi Jinping hosted Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, the first Omani head of state to visit China since diplomatic relations began in 1978.