Chinese Premier Li Qiang backed Iran's position against U.S.-Israeli strikes and unilateral U.S. sanctions in talks with Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, Gulf News reported, citing IRNA.
The Oct. 19 meeting was held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, where Aref was attending a gathering of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation prime ministers, Gulf News said.
Gulf News reported that IRNA quoted Li describing the strikes as “blatant aggression.” In the Iranian account, he objected to the attacks taking place during negotiations and without United Nations Security Council approval.
U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran began in late February, Gulf News reported. The account of Li's remarks places China's objections to those attacks alongside its opposition to U.S. sanctions.
Gulf News reported, citing IRNA, that Li pledged to defend Iran's rights in international forums. Gulf News reported that he supported reviving the Islamabad Agreement.
