Xi reiterates support for Iran nuclear programme amid Western pressure

Chinese President Xi Jinping doubled down on his support for Iran to “safeguard its national sovereignty” and vowed to promote a widely accepted solution to the Iranian nuclear issue as Tehran faces mounting Western pressures over its nuclear programme.

“China attaches importance to Iran’s repeated affirmation that it does not seek to develop nuclear weapons, respects Iran’s right to peaceful use of nuclear energy,” Xi told his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, according to state-owned broadcaster CCTV.

“China will continue to uphold justice and promote a solution to the Iranian nuclear issue that addresses the legitimate concerns of all parties,” Xi said.

Xi’s remarks on Tuesday, which sent a clear supportive message to Tehran, marked one of his first public statements on the nuclear issue since the Israel-Iran air strikes that led to the United States’ involvement.

The meeting, held after the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin, took place amid Beijing’s clear bid to challenge and reshape the US-led world order at a time when both China and Iran are under pressure from such an establishment.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei endorsed this initiative through a post on X, stating that the two countries could become the “transformative power to reshape the regional and even global landscape”.