Tuesday, 02 January 2024 12:17 GMT

China Denies Supplying Iran with Missile Parts as 'Baseless' Claims


(MENAFN) Beijing forcefully rejected allegations Tuesday that it provided technical assistance to Iran in the development of missiles, pushing back against reported remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that directly implicated China in weapons manufacturing support.

"We oppose accusations which are not grounded on facts," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told reporters in Beijing.

Guo was responding to claims attributed to Netanyahu, who allegedly stated that China "provided support to Iran on some specific parts in manufacturing missiles" — remarks that have sharply elevated diplomatic tensions between Beijing and its Western counterparts.

"We have made clear China's position on multiple occasions. As a responsible major country, China always fulfils its due international obligations," Guo said.

He added: "We are committed in promoting de-escalation and peace talks to bring about an end to the conflict."

The denials come against a volatile backdrop. Israel and the US launched coordinated strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, sparking a wave of Iranian retaliatory attacks on American military installations and assets across the Middle East. The US has since leveled sanctions against Chinese oil refineries and satellite imaging companies, citing Beijing's alleged material support for Tehran.

The human cost of the conflict has been severe. More than 3,300 people were killed in Iran and tens of thousands more uprooted from their homes. On the American side, at least 13 servicemen lost their lives and dozens more sustained injuries before Pakistan brokered a ceasefire between the warring parties on April 8, bringing the active phase of the conflict to a halt.

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