China wants new forum to defuse tensions in Middle East

China has reaffirme its commitment to Iran Nuclear deal. During a meeting with the Iranian Foreign Minister Javid Zarif on Saturday, China's foreign minister Wang Yi called for a new forum to defuse tensions in the Middle East.“China proposes to build a regional multilateral dialogue platform with equal participation of all stakeholders,” said the Chinese foreign ministry statement. The forum would “enhance mutual understanding through dialogue and explore political and diplomatic solutions to security issues in the Middle East”, the statement added.

Wang added that support for the Iranian nuclear deal, negotiated by the Obama administration  in 2015,but ultimately abandoned by Donald Trump, would be a precondition of entry to the forum. Zarif said on Twitter his “fruitful talks” with Wang amounted to a rejection of “US unilateralism” and had also focused on strategic ties and collaboration on the development of a coronavirus vaccine. Meeting between the two held in China’s southwestern Tengchong city. Iran has been locked in an acrimonious relationship with Saudi Arabia, the other major Middle Eastern power, over the war in Yemen, Iranian influence in Iraq and Saudi support for Washington’s sanctions on Tehran.