TEHRAN – Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reiterated Beijing's commitment to respecting Iran's sovereignty, amidst recent tensions over territorial claims in the Persian Gulf.

Wang made the remarks in a meeting with Iran's acting Foreign Minister, Ali Baqeri Kani, on the sidelines of the BRICS meeting in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. 

The meeting between Baqeri Kani and Wang Yi followed Iran's protest against China's support for "baseless claims" regarding islands in the Persian Gulf historically belonging to Iran.

Wang emphasized China's determination to enhance its strategic ties with Iran across various sectors, highlighting the countries' deep-rooted historical relations.

Baqeri Kani hailed the longstanding ties between Iran and China as emblematic of multilateralism, asserting that such alliances provide solutions to international issues. He also thanked China for its support in international forums, particularly in the face of recent resolutions targeting Iran's peaceful nuclear program.

Addressing ongoing conflicts, Baqeri Kani highlighted the Israeli regime's actions in Gaza as emblematic of the failure of unilateralism, stressing the importance of multilateral approaches to global challenges

Tehran, Moscow on the path to enhance cooperation

Earlier in the day, Baqeri Kani engaged in talks with Igor Levitin, special assistant to Russian President Vladimir Putin, on the sidelines of the BRICS meeting. 

The discussions, held on Monday, delved into a range of bilateral cooperation areas encompassing politics, economics, trade, and regional and international affairs.

Continuing his meetings, Baqeri Kani also held talks with the Foreign Ministers of Brazil and Belarus. The discussions underscored the enhancement of bilateral ties in all areas.

The engagement between Iran and other countries comes amid Iran's official membership in the BRICS, solidifying its position within the group alongside recent entrants like Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.