Israel urges China to pressure Iran to rein in nuclear ambitions

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China and Russia – Iran’s main partners among world powers – both condemned Israel’s strikes, but did little to support Tehran.

PHOTO: AFP

SHANGHAI – Israel urged China to use its economic and political sway to rein in Iran’s military and nuclear ambitions.

“China is the only one capable of influencing Iran,” Ms Ravit Baer, Israel’s consul-general in Shanghai, told reporters on July 1 in the city. “Iran would collapse if China didn’t buy its oil.”

Her remarks come with Israel-China relations under strain because of the Jewish state’s war in Gaza and the

June attacks on Iran

During Israel and Iran’s 12-day war, the Islamic republic’s military and nuclear sites were significantly damaged and several top army commanders and atomic scientists were killed.

The US brokered a ceasefire

China and Russia – Iran’s main partners among world powers – both condemned Israel’s strikes, but did little to support Tehran.

Beijing has also consistently called for Israel to end its conflict in Gaza against Hamas and take steps towards a two-state solution for the Palestinians, something Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says would threaten his country’s security.

China buys around 90 per cent of Iran’s oil exports of roughly 1.7 million barrels a day.

In addition, Beijing signed a strategic partnership in 2021 outlining US$400 billion (S$509 billion) of potential Chinese investments over 25 years in Iran.