The president of the Iranian Parliament, Mohamad Baqer Qalibaf, has urged China this Wednesday to consolidate an alliance as partners "in the strictest sense of the word," emphasizing that the link between both states does not respond to a logic of "clients."
"Iran's relationship with China is not that of a client or a commercial partner, but rather we should be partners in the strictest sense of the word," he stated in a speech reported by the Iranian television channel IRIB.
Qalibaf, Iran's chief negotiator in talks with the United States for the cessation of hostilities, has advocated for strengthening ties between Tehran and Beijing, emphasizing that both nations "will be present in any regional coalition that is formed."
"We are not simply a client or a commercial partner of China, but a true partner in every sense of the word," he stressed.
That same Wednesday, China announced that it will send a new package of humanitarian aid to Iran and Lebanon with the aim of supporting "rehabilitation and reconstruction" efforts in both countries following the conflict in the Middle East. Beijing has also carried out discreet diplomatic efforts within the framework of Pakistan's mediation for a memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran.