BEIJING, June 24 (ANI) — China’s Foreign Ministry has welcomed the recent diplomatic breakthrough between Washington and Tehran, expressing optimism about the interim accord while reaffirming Beijing’s support for Iran’s core national interests.
Speaking at a press briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the newly signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between the United States and Iran had sent a “positive signal” to the international community.
Guo emphasized that all parties should work together to safeguard and implement the agreement to promote long-term regional stability.
Reaffirming Beijing’s diplomatic stance in West Asia, Guo said China “always upholds a just position, supports all efforts conducive to peace, supports the Iranian side in defending sovereignty, security, territorial integrity, and national dignity, and supports Iran in improving its relations with Gulf states and regional countries.”
The comments come after a major diplomatic breakthrough on June 14, when Iran and the United States announced a 14-point framework intended to halt hostilities and resolve outstanding disputes through dialogue and diplomatic engagement.
Formally designated as the Islamabad Understanding, the memorandum took effect on June 18 following digital signatures by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and U.S. President Donald Trump.
However, in a separate development underscoring Tehran’s position on national sovereignty, Pezeshkian said Tuesday that Iran’s missile program remains entirely outside the scope of the agreement.
Speaking during a news conference in Islamabad while on an official visit to Pakistan, Pezeshkian firmly rejected any connection between Iran’s defense capabilities and the 14-point accord reached with Washington.
According to video footage broadcast by Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), Pezeshkian stated, “The discussion over our missiles does not exist in the MoU, and it never will.”
Defending the country’s missile program, the Iranian president described it as a critical component of Iran’s deterrence strategy.
He argued that without its missile capabilities, Iran would have been vulnerable to military attacks by Israel and the United States.
Pezeshkian’s remarks came during high-level discussions with Pakistani leaders on regional developments and bilateral relations and followed recent technical talks held in Switzerland aimed at reducing regional tensions.
Iran’s position is consistent with the official text of the memorandum released by the United States last week.
According to CNN, a senior U.S. administration official outlined the 14-point agreement, which focuses on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, easing certain financial restrictions on Tehran, and establishing a framework for future technical discussions on Iran’s nuclear program.
Notably, the published text does not include provisions restricting Iran’s missile program or broader defense infrastructure.
The only weapons-related commitment specifically mentioned in the document is Iran’s pledge not to “procure or develop nuclear weapons.”
The omission reflects a significant shift in Washington’s negotiating approach. While President Trump had previously cited limiting Iran’s missile capabilities as a key justification for military operations, his stance appeared to soften during negotiations.
Speaking at the G7 Summit in France last week, Trump said that “missiles aren’t the problem.” (ANI)
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