China: Iran’s 300 Missile and Drone Attack on Israel ‘Measured,’ Urges Restraint

Beijing, a significant commercial partner and diplomatic ally of Iran, has voiced its stance through its Foreign Ministry, urging for an immediate end to the conflict in Gaza. This call for cessation comes amidst the ongoing self-defense operation by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) against the Iran-backed jihadist terror organization Hamas, which began in October.

Using its state media, the Chinese government has cited Chinese regime-approved “experts” who claimed that the barrage of more than 300 cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and drones launched by Iran towards Israel was “restrained.” These experts suggested that Israel was responsible for the attack on itself and thus implied Israel has no legitimate reason to respond, in an attempt to prevent further escalation.

This attack, notable for being the first direct assault by Iran on Israel rather than using its terrorist proxies such as Hamas, Hezbollah, the Yemeni Houthis, or “Islamic Resistance in Iraq” groups, targeted Israeli military installations.

Despite the scale of the attack, Israel’s advanced missile defense technology proved effective. According to the IDF, Israel successfully stopped 99 percent of the missiles and drones, including all of the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and all of the cruise missiles. At present, the only documented casualty is an Arab-Israeli girl hospitalized after being hit with shrapnel.

Iran and China enjoy strong military, diplomatic, and economic ties. China played a pivotal role in integrating Iran into the BRICS coalition, consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, by introducing Iran to the group in January. This move garnered Tehran significant support from some of the world’s largest anti-American economies. Following this introduction, Iran, Russia, and China conducted joint naval exercises in March.

Moreover, China played a crucial role in normalizing diplomatic relations between Iran and its long-standing rival, Saudi Arabia, in March 2023. This diplomatic breakthrough paved the way for both Iran and Saudi Arabia to join BRICS, enhancing the prospects for greater economic cooperation between these countries.

China has made substantial investments in Iran’s struggling economy. The head of Iran’s foreign investment agency reported that China increased its investments in Iran from $300 million to $3 billion over the past year, highlighting a significant increase in economic cooperation between the two nations.