China takes a stand and denounces the US-Israeli attacks on Iran. “A clear violation of international law”

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday that the US-Israeli attacks on Iran were “a clear violation of international law”, state broadcaster CCTV reported, according to AFP.

Wang Yi also stressed, following talks with his counterparts in Saudi Arabia, Germany and the EU, that the United Nations Security Council – a body where China is a permanent member – “must prevent the escalation of the conflict”.

A draft resolution, introduced by Bahrain and debated in the Security Council, aims to authorize the use of “all necessary means” to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, currently blocked de facto by Iran.

“The military attack launched by the United States and Israel against Iran was not authorized by the Security Council and clearly violates international law,” Wang told German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul in a phone call on Thursday, according to CCTV.

“The Security Council should focus on resolving the situation, not on giving an air of legitimacy to unauthorized military actions, and certainly not on further escalating the conflict,” Wang said in a separate phone call with European foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas.

Beijing is a close partner of Tehran and the main buyer of Iranian oil, with most of the crude reaching China passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

But China also has close economic ties to the Gulf countries and has repeatedly condemned Tehran's attacks on their territories.

China recently proposed a five-point peace initiative with Pakistan to end the conflict in the Middle East.

The plan proposed by China and Pakistan includes an immediate cease-fire, support for peace negotiations, protection of non-military objectives, security of sea lanes and compliance with the UN Charter.