European Union (EU) leaders decided on Wednesday to step up sanctions against Iran over the latter's weekend missile and drone attack on Israel.
The EU will take further restrictive measures against Iran, notably in relation to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and missiles, the European Council said in a statement after the first day of a two-day summit in Brussels.
The EU leaders also urged "all parties to exercise the utmost restraint and to refrain from any action that may increase tensions in the region."
Iran launched about 350 drones and missiles late Saturday in response to Israel's killing of seven Iranians, including two veteran commanders, in a strike on the consular section of the Iranian embassy in Syria on April 1.
The EU has a raft of sanctions already in place against Iran, including trade restrictions, travel bans and asset freezes. More recently, the bloc established a new regime to prohibit the EU export of critical components used to manufacture deadly drones.
The Financial Times said Western countries are mulling new sanctions against Iran while pleading for a cooling of tensions to avert a wide war in the Middle East.
Public opinion pointed out they do not face up to the root of the retaliatory attack on Israel - the spillover from the Gaza conflict, but try to achieve regional peace by slapping sanctions on Iran, fully demonstrating the double standards of their Middle East policies.
EU to impose new sanctions against Iran
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship of Argentina Diana Mondino on Tuesday in Beijing.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China is willing to take the opportunity of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of China-Argentina comprehensive strategic partnership this year, to jointly grasp the direction of bilateral relations, inject more certainty into the two sides' cooperation in various fields, and open up new prospects for the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
The two sides should continue to cherish and consolidate political mutual trust, understand and support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, and advance cooperation, he said.
China is willing to work with Argentina and other Latin American and Caribbean countries to promote the building of China-Latin America relations in the new era featuring equality, mutual benefit, innovation and openness which will benefit the people, strengthen coordination and cooperation under multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations and G20, and safeguard the common interests of developing countries, Wang said.
Mondino noted that no matter how Argentina's internal political situation changes, its friendly policy toward China will not change. Argentina is willing to deepen cooperation with China under the framework of the CELAC-China Forum, keep close communication and coordination within multilateral mechanisms, and safeguard world peace and promote sustainable development, Mondino said.
Top Chinese diplomat holds talks with Argentina's foreign minister
