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A top Chinese official has again called on the United States and Israel to immediately halt military operations against Iran.

Some shit you should know before you dig in: It’s no secret that China has a lot to lose if the Iranian government falls and moves toward a pro-Western alignment. China is the largest buyer of Iranian oil and often gets it at discounted prices because of Western sanctions. Chinese companies have also invested heavily in Iran’s oil and energy infrastructure through long-term development deals tied to the two countries’ 25-year strategic partnership. These ties have become even more important as other key energy partners face problems. Venezuela, which used to sell large amounts of oil to China, has recently moved closer to the West after the US removed Maduro from power and oil shipments to China were paused under pressure from Washington. At the same time, Russia, another major supplier for China, has faced disruptions as Ukraine repeatedly targets Russian oil infrastructure in an effort to impact Russia’s efforts to fund its war. This has led some to believe that there is a bigger play going on here, with the US seeking to gain leverage over China through its energy supplies.

What’s going on now: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a phone call with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar today and condemned ongoing US-Israeli operations. He said that “China opposes any military strikes launched by Israel and the US against Iran. Force cannot truly solve problems.” Wang added that “China calls for an immediate cessation of military operations to prevent the further escalation and loss of control of the conflict.”

China has also delivered similar messages directly to Iranian officials. During a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Wang said China supports Iran “in safeguarding its sovereignty, security, territorial integrity and national dignity” and backs the country in “upholding its legitimate and lawful rights and interests.” Wang also told Araghchi that China has urged the US and Israel “to immediately cease military operations, prevent further escalation of tensions and stop the conflict from spreading and engulfing the entire Middle East.”

Wang also held calls with France’s foreign minister, warning against the use of military force and stressing that countries should not use their “military advantage to launch arbitrary attacks against other nations.”

Iranian officials have meanwhile been coordinating closely with China as the situation unfolds. In his call with Wang, Araghchi said Iran would do everything possible to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens and institutions in the country and argued Iran had “no choice but to defend itself at all costs.”