Iran, Saudi Officials Trade Accusations at Beijing Forum as China Warns War Must Not Reach Yemen
A tense exchange between Iranian and Saudi officials at a Beijing security conference has exposed deep divisions, while China threw its support behind Tehran and warned that the conflict must not spread to Yemen or disrupt the Strait of Hormuz.
A Beijing security conference became the stage for a tense exchange on Wednesday as a senior Iranian defence official and a Saudi think tank chief openly accused each other over the conflict in the Middle East [242501]. The confrontation took place at the Xiangshan Forum, in the same city where Iran and Saudi Arabia signed a peace deal just a few years ago [242501].
Prince Turki al-Faisal, chairman of the King Faisal Centre for Research and Islamic Studies, accused Iran of failing to respect "the sovereignty of the Arab states" [242501]. The Iranian official responded in kind, turning the plenary session into a heated back-and-forth [242501].
The clash came as China's foreign minister met his Iranian counterpart in Beijing on Wednesday and repeated Beijing's support for Tehran [242498]. Wang Yi also called for a political solution to Iran's conflict with the United States [242498].
Wang Yi warned that regional tensions must not spread further into Yemen, and urged that the Strait of Hormuz be reopened as soon as possible [242498]. The talks come as Washington expands sanctions on Iran [242498]. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is making his second trip to China since the US launched large-scale strikes on Iran in late February [242498].
Also on Wednesday, Lebanon's parliament speaker, Nabih Berri, met with Iran's foreign minister to discuss Israeli attacks and ceasefire violations [242116]. Berri called for immediate action to stop the attacks and warned that continued inaction could lead to "dangerous consequences" [242116].
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran will not surrender to the United States and Israel, speaking during his first visit to India [239439]. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi renewed India's call for dialogue and peace [239439].