China will stay committed to safeguarding its legitimate security interests and upholding world peace and stability, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Monday, in response to media query about the release of an annual assessment report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute earlier in the day.
The report said that China currently possesses at least 600 nuclear warheads, ranking the third in the world. And its nuclear arsenal is growing faster than that of any other country, by about 100 new warheads per year.
Speaking at a press conference in Beijing in response, Guo Jiakun, the spokesman, said that the Chinese side would not make comment on the report.
"Let me just stress that China follows a nuclear strategy that focuses on self-defense. China always keeps its nuclear capabilities at minimum level required by national security, and never engages in arms race. China follows a policy of 'no first use' of nuclear weapons at any time and under any circumstances and has committed unconditionally to not using or threatening to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon states and nuclear-weapon-free zones. China is the only nuclear weapon state to have adopted such a policy. China will stay firmly committed to safeguarding its own legitimate security interests and keeping the world peaceful and stable," he said.
China to stay committed to safeguarding its legitimate security interests, upholding world peace, stability: spokesman
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned on Sunday that Tehran would view the United States and Israel's military bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" should Washington take military action against Iran.
At a parliamentary session convened to review an emergency proposal on assembly regulations, Qalibaf emphasized that, at this highly sensitive juncture, Iran must accurately and thoroughly identify the schemes of its adversaries.
Qalibaf said that Iran is currently confronting Israel and the United States simultaneously on four fronts: economic, cognitive, military, and counterterrorism. Of them, the economic warfare and the cognitive and psychological warfare began many years ago and have persisted to this day, growing increasingly complex and intense in recent years.
The remarks came as U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran, taking advantage of its nationwide unrest.
Protests have erupted in several Iranian cities since late December over the sharp fall of the rial and long-standing economic hardship. Iranian authorities have acknowledged the demonstrations and voiced willingness to address economic grievances, while warning against violence and vandalism.
Amid the ongoing protests, deadly clashes have been reported lately between police and what the government described as "rioters." However, no official death toll has been released.
Also on Sunday, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will address the country's economic situation and political environment in a televised interview later that day.
Iran swears to counterattack if attacked
