Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

China showed its support for Iran in India as senior officials from the two countries met for the first time since a framework deal between Washington and Tehran was signed last week to starts talks aimed at hammering out a long-term peace deal.

Beijing's top diplomat, Wang Yi, held talks with Qadir Nezami, deputy secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, on June 22 to discuss the ongoing peace negotiations on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.

According to a readout from China's Foreign Ministry, Wang described the provisions in the Iran-US agreement as "hard-won," adding that Beijing is willing "continue providing assistance in its own way" to play a role in the peace process.

Nezami stated that he "looked forward to China continuing to play an important role" in facilitating the implementation of the first phase of the deal.

This meeting comes as the first round of face-to-face talks between the United States and Iran since the signing of the deal concluded on June 22 in Burgenstock, Switzerland, mediated by officials from Pakistan and Qatar. The meeting had previously been postponed following an escalation of fighting in Lebanon between Hezbollah and Israeli forces.

Hezbollah is both a militant group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon. It is considered a terrorist organization by the United States, although the European Union has only blacklisted its armed wing.

Wang expressed Beijing's thanks to Islamabad and Doha for their role in mediating discussions between the United States and Iran. China has worked closely with Islamabad, a close ally, to moderate the conflict indirectly as Pakistan stepped up as a key mediator in the conflict.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-us-hormuz-oil- blockade-gulf-israel/33640284.html?lbis=460340