Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his condolences to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi following a "serious terrorist attack" in Iran this week, as reported by state media on Thursday.
During a ceremony honoring the late General Qassem Soleimani, at least 84 people were killed in two explosions that caused chaos and devastation, as per Newsweek.
Xi Jinping Condemns Terror Attacks in Iran
China's President Xi Jinping attends a meeting with Vietnam's President Vo Van Thuong (not pictured) at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi on December 13, 2023. China and Vietnam pledged on December 12 to deepen ties during President Xi Jinping's first visit in six years, as Beijing seeks to counter growing US influence with the communist nation.
The assassination of Soleimani by a US drone strike in 2020 continues to have significant repercussions in the region. China's official Xinhua News Agency stated that President Xi conveyed his shock at the terror attacks in Kerman, which resulted in heavy casualties. He firmly reiterated China's opposition to all forms of terrorism, strongly condemned such attacks, and expressed China's steadfast support for Iran in maintaining national security and stability.
The southeastern region of Iran where the attack occurred reported numerous injuries. Immediately following the explosions, Iranian officials attributed the act to terrorism, and the Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility on Thursday. This attack marks the deadliest incident in Iran since the Islamic Revolution of 1979.
In response, Iran's mission to the United Nations vowed to "respond with fire and fury" to the orchestrators, although they have yet to address the ISIS claim. Iran has been a key supporter of the Hamas militant group and supplies arms, in addition to providing weapons to the Houthi rebels in Yemen who are currently disrupting shipping lanes in the Red Sea.
On the other hand, China has maintained a neutral stance in the Middle East and has refrained from condemning the Palestinian fighters in Gaza for their incursion into Israel last October or directly accusing the Houthis of threatening international maritime security.
Beijing's relatively restrained response aligns with its geopolitical agenda in the region, where it seeks to broker ceasefires and leverage its positive image in the global south.
In his message to President Raisi, President Xi Jinping expressed solidarity with Iran, as the two countries have cultivated a comprehensive partnership in recent years encompassing various domains such as economics, military, and technology. China and Iran position themselves as counterweights to US influence in Asia and the Middle East.
In March 2021, the two nations signed a 25-year strategic cooperation agreement, underscoring their commitment to deepen their ties. The Chinese leadership has not assigned blame for the attack in Iran, but some Chinese experts have directly linked the bombings to the United States and Israel, according to Reuters.
Fudan Researcher Links Iran Attack to US, Israel
Sun Degang, a researcher at Fudan University in Shanghai, suggested that the Western allies may have instigated local factions to carry out the attack, which occurred on the anniversary of Soleimani's death. Sun claimed that the attack aligns with recent military actions by the United States and Israel targeting Iran and its proxies.
The dual explosions during the ceremony for Qassem Soleimani resulted in the loss of nearly 100 lives and left numerous others injured. Iranian officials initially attributed the incident to unspecified "terrorists." President Xi Jinping expressed his shock at the attack and reaffirmed China's opposition to terrorism, along with its strong condemnation of such acts.
He offered sincere condolences on behalf of the Chinese government and people, extending sympathy to the bereaved families and the injured. The bombings occurred during a commemoration event in Kerman, located approximately 820 kilometers southeast of Tehran. The second explosion occurred as the crowd attempted to flee from the chaos caused by the first blast, causing widespread panic and further casualties.
The international community, including the United Nations, the European Union, and countries such as Russia, Turkey, and Germany, have strongly denounced these bombings as horrific acts of terrorism. While investigations into the attack continue, the global community remains united in its resolve to combat terrorism and uphold peace worldwide.
This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for collective efforts to prevent, condemn, and eradicate terrorism, ensuring the safety and stability of nations, China Daily reported.
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