China, Russia Back Iran Against UN Sanctions Amid Western Clash

Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed China's support for Iran's right to peaceful nuclear energy and emphasized promoting a fair solution to the Iranian nuclear issue amid Western pressure. Xi's remarks, made during a meeting with Iranian officials after the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, underscored Beijing's stance against the US-led world order and its backing for Iran's sovereignty. The SCO summit, which included leaders from over 20 countries such as Russia, India, and Pakistan, focused on multipolarity, economic cooperation, and regional security, with Xi advocating for a more equitable global governance system and presenting the SCO as a counterbalance to Western alliances. Additionally, China and Russia jointly opposed European efforts to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran, criticizing the snapback mechanism as legally flawed and harmful to diplomatic efforts, reflecting deeper fractures over the 2015 nuclear deal. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expressed optimism about China and Iran becoming transformative powers reshaping regional and global dynamics. These developments highlight a growing axis of defiance involving China, Russia, and Iran against Western policies regarding Iran's nuclear program.