China has sent an envoy to Saudi Arabia and Iran amid an escalating feud, the foreign ministry said on Thursday, calling on all sides to exercise restraint.
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Ming was currently in Saudi Arabia and would travel on to Iran, ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a daily news briefing.
“We hope the situation in the Middle East can move in the direction of amelioration,” Hua told reporters.
Tension between Shia-majority Iran and Sunni-majority Saudi Arabia has spiralled since the execution of a Shia cleric in Saudi Arabia.
Qatar recalled its ambassador to Iran on Wednesday, state news agency QNA said, after allies Saudi Arabia and Bahrain cut their ties with Tehran following attacks on Saudi missions by Iranian protesters.
“We hope that all parties can remain calm and exercise restraint and appropriately resolve relevant issues via dialogue and consultation,” Hua added.