The Chinese government's top diplomat, State Councillor Wang Yi, told Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Friday that China resolutely opposes “unilateral” sanctions imposed by the United States.
China supports Iran to safeguard its legitimate rights and understands Iran's situation, Wang Yi said in a meeting with Zarif in Beijing, according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement.
Tensions have escalated in recent days with increasing concerns about a potential US-Iran conflict. Iran has said it is committed to its obligations under an international nuclear deal despite the US withdrawal from the landmark agreement last year, and has called the reimposition of US sanctions unacceptable.
Zarif urged China to take "concrete actions" to safeguard the 2015 nuclear deal as he warned of a "dangerous" situation amid the escalating tensions with the US.
US officials said the deployment of an aircraft carrier strike group and B-52 bombers to the Gulf, one of the world's most strategic waterways, was in reaction to photographs showing that Iran had loaded missiles onto small traditional boats.
On Wednesday, the US State Department ordered the evacuation of most personnel from the US embassy and consulate in Iraq over an alleged "imminent" threat from Iraqi militias with close links to Tehran.
Zarif said Thursday there is "no possibility" of negotiations with the United States to reduce spiraling tensions, Japan's Kyodo news agency reported.
"No, there is no possibility for negotiations," the news agency cited Zarif as telling reporters in Tokyo, where he met with Japanese officials.
