TEHRAN -- A senior Iranian diplomat says U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s provocative visit to Taiwan is a “turning point” in the already tense ties between China and the United States, which will reverberate across the world.
In a tweet, Reza Zabib, the director general of the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s Asia and Oceania Department, described the heightened tensions as “Cold War II,” which he said will bring about “major shocks” to international relations.
“Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan is a turning point in relations between China and America and it will affect international relations with the reverberations it creates,” Zabib said.
“Until Cold War II is consolidated, international relations will experience major shocks,” he warned.
Pelosi defied a series of increasingly stark warnings from China, which views Taiwan as its territory, to visit Taiwan.
She became the highest-profile elected American official to visit Chinese Taipei in 25 years.
Condemning the visit, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said it was part of U.S. officials’ interference in China’s domestic affairs and would only foment tensions in the region.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran considers respect for the territorial integrity of countries to be among the principles of its foreign policy, and support for the One-China policy is unquestionable in line with this tenet,” he said.
Chinese Ambassador to Tehran Chang Hua said his country appreciates Iran’s condemnation of U.S. provocations.
“We praise the Iranian side’s condemnation of America’s provocative actions and interference in China’s internal affairs,” he tweeted.
The Chinese envoy also wrote in a separate tweet that Beijing appreciates Iran’s continued support for the “One China” policy.
President Ebrahim Raisi, in an hour-long phone conversation with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Friday, voiced Iran’s firm support for the “One China policy”, denouncing U.S. interference in the internal affairs of other countries.