Iranian defense minister arrives in China for Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit

By Mohammad Sio

ISTANBUL (AA) - ​​​​​​​Iran’s defense minister arrived Wednesday in China as the Asian country hosts a two-day defense summit, said media reports.

“Iran's Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh arrives in Beijing, China, for an official visit,” according to Press TV in Iran.

The visit follows a US-brokered ceasefire between Tehran and Tel Aviv, which followed 12 days of intense conflict sparked by Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites June 13 and Iran’s retaliatory attacks.

Nasirzadeh told the defense ministers that Iran came under attack and expressed gratitude to China for its understanding and support of Iran's legitimate stance, according to the Chinese state media outlet Global Times.

He hopes China will continue to uphold justice and play an even greater role in maintaining the current ceasefire and easing regional tensions.

China hosted the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s (SCO) defense chiefs on Wednesday on the first day of the summit in Qingdao amid conflicts in the Middle East.

All 10 member states -- China, Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus -- are in Qingdao for the summit.

Israel launched the attacks, alleging that Tehran was on the verge of producing a nuclear bomb, a claim vehemently denied by Iran.

While Iran launched retaliatory missile and drone strikes, the US joined the conflict by bombing three Iranian nuclear sites.

After nearly two weeks of aerial combat between the two regional arch-foes, US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran on Monday.