"The world is going to ruin!" China warns of nuclear disaster over attacks on Iran

The misuse of military force only deepens conflicts and threatens world peace, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has warned. He said war was not the solution to the Iranian nuclear issue and pre-emptive strikes lacked legitimacy.

Speaking at a press conference in Paris after a meeting with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, Wang Yi described the escalation in the Middle East as a warning signal to the world. He stressed that the repeated use of force will only lead to further suffering and the accumulation of hatred.

Wang recalled that the Iranian nuclear issue could have been a prime example of a diplomatic solution. Instead, the world is once again approaching the brink of crisis. He expressed confidence in Iran's repeated statements that it was not seeking to build nuclear weapons, while supporting its right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

He suggested that negotiations on new international oversight of Iran's nuclear programme should be accelerated. Full International Atomic Energy Agency control is essential, he said.

He also warned against a recurrence of Israeli-Iranian clashes and sharply criticized past US bombing of foreign countries' nuclear facilities. If such actions lead to a nuclear accident, the whole world will suffer the consequences.

Wang challenged the concept of "peace through strength" and warned that if brute force replaces rules and justice, small and medium-sized countries will be left unprotected.

He also stressed the inseparability of the Iranian issue from the core of the Middle East problems - the Palestinian issue. The ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza must be ended immediately, he said. A two-state solution remains the only realistic path to lasting peace in the region, he said.

Finally, Wang called for greater accountability from the international community. Both China and France, he said, should play an active role as permanent members of the UN Security Council in defending justice, promoting negotiations and rejecting double standards.

CMG