As an unprecedented Israeli attack on Iran last week sparks a spiraling conflict between the two enemy states, China has seen an opportunity to cast itself as potential peace broker – and an alternative voice to the United States.

China has voiced strong concerns over Israel’s recent military strikes on Iran. On Friday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry released a statement saying it is “closely following” the events and is worried about how the situation is unfolding.

Experts warn Israel must be cautious not to sully relations with the U.S. as China once again warms to the Jewish state

BEIJING: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, held a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi

In May 2025, the US and Israel then advanced a new aid mechanism for Gaza run by private security contractors operating in Israeli-approved “safe zones”. Aid is conditional on population displacement, with civilians in northern Gaza denied access unless they relocate.

The 10-member bloc, currently chaired by China, called Israel's “aggressive actions against civilian targets (in Iran), including energy and transport infrastructure, which have resulted in civilian casualties,

On the heels of Israel's strikes on Iran over its nuclear program, here's a look at which nations currently possess nuclear weapons.

AMANEY A. JAMAL is Co-Founder and Co-Principal Investigator at Arab Barometer, Dean of the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, and Edwards S. Sanford Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University.