The Foreign Ministry in Beijing reaffirmed China's friendship with Iran on Monday and called on Gulf countries to unite against foreign interference after US-Israeli attacks against the Tehran regime sparked a conflict that is spreading across the region, Reuters and DPA reported, according to Agerpres.

In a telephone conversation with his Omani counterpart, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said he hoped for the development of friendly relations between the Gulf states so that they could "keep their future and destiny in their own hands."

Wang also spoke by phone with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, to whom he said that, in his opinion, Iran can maintain its national and social stability while giving importance to the legitimate concerns of its neighbors.

The US and Israeli air strikes, which began last Saturday, killed Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran retaliated by attacking targets in Israel and Arab countries in the region where US military bases are located with missiles and drones.

In various diplomatic talks, Wang expressed his support for the sovereignty and security of Iran and its neighbors.

He also spoke with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Monday, asking Paris to cooperate with Beijing to promote the de-escalation of conflicts.

On Sunday, the Chinese minister described the US and Israeli attacks on Iran and the killing of Khamenei as "unacceptable," calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the resumption of negotiations between Washington and Tehran on Iran's nuclear and missile programs.

Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said that a Chinese citizen was killed during the attacks in Tehran and that around 3,000 others were evacuated from Iran. She added that Beijing had not been informed in advance about the US military actions.

Mao denied that China was close to an agreement to sell supersonic anti-ship missiles to the Iranian armed forces. Six sources familiar with the Sino-Iranian negotiations told Reuters last month that such an agreement was nearing completion.

Chinese Ambassador to the UN Jia Guide told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday that the attacks against Iran and the killing of Khamenei violate the principles of the UN Charter and the rights of Iranians.