After Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah was killed in Israeli strikes on Friday (Sep 27), Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reportedly moved to a safe location with heightened security measures in place.

News agency Reuters citing officials in Tehran reported that Iran was constantly in touch with its proxies in Gaza and Lebanon to determine what steps should be taken next.

Khamenei on Saturday (Sep 28) also condemned Israel's&nbsp;"short-sighted" policy after strikes on Lebanon.&nbsp;

"The massacre of the defenceless people in Lebanon once again revealed the ferocity of the Zionist rabid dog to everyone, and proved the short-sighted and stupid policy of the leaders of the usurping regime," Khamenei said in a statement, without providing any information on&nbsp;Hezbollah's fate.

Iran's foreign ministry also said that&nbsp;the path of Hezbollah's chief Hassan Nasrallah will continue despite his killing.

"The glorious path of the leader of the resistance, Hassan Nasrallah, will continue and his sacred goal will be realised in the liberation of Quds (Jerusalem), God willing," said foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani in a post on social media X mourning the Hezbollah chief's&nbsp;death.&nbsp;

<h2>'Most senior leaders eliminated'</h2>

Israel's military said Saturday that "most" senior leaders of Hezbollah had been killed after it announced the death of Hassan Nasrallah. Hezbollah confirmed the death of its leader hours after Israel claimed it.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwi9ubiKweWIAxVHnmMGHW7NK_QQxfQBKAB6BAgKEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/west-asia-crisis-multiple-israeli-airstrikes-hit-beiruts-southern-suburbs-762666" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/west-asia-crisis-multiple-israeli-airstrikes-hit-beiruts-southern-suburbs-762666&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi9ubiKweWIAxVHnmMGHW7NK_QQxfQBKAB6BAgKEAE">Israeli troops launch new strikes on Hezbollah after group claims rocket attack in northern Israel</a>

Earlier, the Israel Army chief said in a statement that they had been preparing for the attack on Nasrallah for a long time.

"This attack was prepared for a long time, executed at the right moment with great precision, and now we are moving forward with careful preparation for the next steps," said Israeli army chief Herzi Halevi, in a video released by the military.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid congratulated the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)&nbsp;for the said killing of&nbsp;Nasrallah in a post on X.

"I congratulate the security establishment, the IDF and the Air Force for the elimination of the rabbi murderer Hassan Nasrallah. Let all our enemies know that whoever attacks Israel is a son of death. This is an important achievement for the deterrence and security of the State of Israel," he posted, in support of the government's anti-Hezbollah actions in Lebanon.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq and non-state actors like Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

After Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah was killed in Israeli strikes on Friday (Sep 27), Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reportedly moved to a safe location with heightened security measures in place.

After Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah was killed in Israeli strikes on Friday (Sep 27), Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reportedly moved to a safe location with heightened security measures in place. News agency Reuters citing officials in Tehran reported that Iran was constantly in touch with its proxies in Gaza and Lebanon to determine what steps should be taken next. Khamenei on Saturday (Sep 28) also condemned Israel's "short-sighted" policy after strikes on Lebanon. "The massacre of the defenceless people in Lebanon once again revealed the ferocity of the Zionist rabid dog to everyone, and proved the short-sighted and stupid policy of the leaders of the usurping regime," Khamenei said in a statement, without providing any information on Hezbollah's fate. Iran's foreign ministry also said that the path of Hezbollah's chief Hassan Nasrallah will continue despite his killing. "The glorious path of the leader of the resistance, Hassan Nasrallah, will continue and his sacred goal will be realised in the liberation of Quds (Jerusalem), God willing," said foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani in a post on social media X mourning the Hezbollah chief's death. 'Most senior leaders eliminated' Israel's military said Saturday that "most" senior leaders of Hezbollah had been killed after it announced the death of Hassan Nasrallah. Hezbollah confirmed the death of its leader hours after Israel claimed it. Also read: Israeli troops launch new strikes on Hezbollah after group claims rocket attack in northern Israel Earlier, the Israel Army chief said in a statement that they had been preparing for the attack on Nasrallah for a long time. "This attack was prepared for a long time, executed at the right moment with great precision, and now we are moving forward with careful preparation for the next steps," said Israeli army chief Herzi Halevi, in a video released by the military. Opposition leader Yair Lapid congratulated the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for the said killing of Nasrallah in a post on X. "I congratulate the security establishment, the IDF and the Air Force for the elimination of the rabbi murderer Hassan Nasrallah. Let all our enemies know that whoever attacks Israel is a son of death. This is an important achievement for the deterrence and security of the State of Israel," he posted, in support of the government's anti-Hezbollah actions in Lebanon. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq and non-state actors like Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

West Asia crisis: Iran's Khamenei moved to safe location amid 'short-sighted' attacks in Beirut

A towering blaze at a notorious prison housing political prisoners and anti-government activists in Iran’s capital injured at least nine people but was extinguished after several hours. However, according to&nbsp;state news agency IRNA&nbsp;four prisoners died due to smoke inhalation caused by the fire and 61 others were injured, with 51 of these treated on an outpatient basis.&nbsp;

Flames and smoke rising from Tehran’s Evin Prison had been widely visible Saturday evening, as nationwide anti-government protests triggered by the death of a young woman in police custody entered the fifth week. In online videos, gunshots and explosions could be heard in the area of the prison.

State media said the fire broke out after a fight between prisoners, in an apparent attempt to distance the events there from the ongoing protests. Hundreds are being held at Evin, where human rights groups have reported repeated abuse of prisoners.

State TV on Sunday aired a video of the fire’s aftermath, showing scorched walls and ceilings in a room it said was the upper floor of a sewing workshop at the prison.

“This fire was caused by a fight between some prisoners in a sewing workshop,” said Tehran Governor&nbsp;Mohsen Mansouri. “The workshop was set up to create jobs” for prisoners, he said.

IRNA&nbsp;reported Saturday that there were clashes between prisoners in one ward and prison personnel, citing a senior security official.

The official said prisoners set fire to a warehouse full of prison uniforms, which caused the blaze. He said the “rioters” were separated from the other prisoners to de-escalate the conflict. The official said the “situation is completely under control” and that firefighters were extinguishing the flames.

Later, Tehran prosecutor Ali Salehi said that calm had returned to the prison and that the unrest was not related to the protests which have swept the country for four weeks.

IRNA later reported nine people had been injured, without elaborating. It published video showing burnt debris scattered around a building, with firefighters spraying down the blaze’s embers.

Families of inmates gathered Sunday near the prison for news of the well-being of their loved ones inside.

Masoumeh, 49, who only gave her first name, said his 19-year-old son was taken to prison two weeks ago after taking part in the street protests. “I cannot trust news about his health, I need to see him closely,” she said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-rising-smoke-seen-from-evin-prison-videos-posted-online-525752">Read more:&nbsp;Iran: Rising smoke seen from Evin prison videos posted online</a>

Another man, Reza, who also gave only his first name, said his brother has been in Evin prison since last year after he was involved in a violent quarrel. “He did not call us in recent days and following last night’s fire I am here to learn what happened to him,” he said.

The US-based Center for Human Rights in Iran reported that an “armed conflict” broke out within the prison walls. It said shots were first heard in Ward 7 of the prison. This account could not immediately be corroborated.

Footage of the fire circulated online. Videos showed shots ringing out as plumes of smoke rose into the sky amid the sound of an alarm. A protest broke out on the street soon after, with many chanting “Death to the Dictator!”,&nbsp;a reference to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and burning tires, the videos showed.

The semiofficial Fars news agency, believed to be close to the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard, said Sunday that some prisoners who tried to escape entered a minefield situated in the northern part of the prison. “It is said the sound of explosions was related to the case,” the report said, offering no additional details.

Witnesses said that police blocked roads and highways to Evin and that at least three strong explosions were heard from the prison area. Traffic was heavy along major freeways near the prison, which is in the north of the capital, and many people honked to show their solidarity with protests.

Riot police were seen riding on motorbikes toward the facility, as were ambulances and firetrucks. Witnesses reported that the internet was blocked in the area.

The prison fire occurred as protesters intensified anti-government demonstrations along main streets and at universities in some cities across Iran on Saturday. Human rights monitors reported hundreds dead, including children, as the movement concluded its fourth week.

The protests erupted after public outrage over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody. She was arrested by Iran’s morality police in Tehran for violating the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code. Iran’s government insists Amini was not mistreated in police custody, but her family says her body showed bruises and other signs of beating after she was detained.

On Sunday, Iran’s parliament published a statement claiming that Amini did not die from any physical blow but that she fell and police waited too long to get treatment for her. It urged police to offer an apology and provide more training to its staff. It suggested police wear cameras on their uniforms and install them in cars used to transfer detainees.

President Joe Biden, on a trip to Oregon, said the Iranian “government is so oppressive” and that he had an “enormous amount of respect for people marching in the streets.”

Evin Prison, which holds detainees facing security-related charges and includes dual citizens, has been charged by rights groups with abusing inmates. The facility has long been known for holding political prisoners as well as those with ties to the West who have been used by Iran as bargaining chips in international negotiations.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

&nbsp;

A towering blaze at a notorious prison housing political prisoners and anti-government activists in Iran’s capital injured at least nine people but was extinguished after several hours.

A towering blaze at a notorious prison housing political prisoners and anti-government activists in Iran’s capital injured at least nine people but was extinguished after several hours. However, according to state news agency IRNA four prisoners died due to smoke inhalation caused by the fire and 61 others were injured, with 51 of these treated on an outpatient basis. Flames and smoke rising from Tehran’s Evin Prison had been widely visible Saturday evening, as nationwide anti-government protests triggered by the death of a young woman in police custody entered the fifth week. In online videos, gunshots and explosions could be heard in the area of the prison. State media said the fire broke out after a fight between prisoners, in an apparent attempt to distance the events there from the ongoing protests. Hundreds are being held at Evin, where human rights groups have reported repeated abuse of prisoners. State TV on Sunday aired a video of the fire’s aftermath, showing scorched walls and ceilings in a room it said was the upper floor of a sewing workshop at the prison. “This fire was caused by a fight between some prisoners in a sewing workshop,” said Tehran Governor Mohsen Mansouri. “The workshop was set up to create jobs” for prisoners, he said. IRNA reported Saturday that there were clashes between prisoners in one ward and prison personnel, citing a senior security official. The official said prisoners set fire to a warehouse full of prison uniforms, which caused the blaze. He said the “rioters” were separated from the other prisoners to de-escalate the conflict. The official said the “situation is completely under control” and that firefighters were extinguishing the flames. Later, Tehran prosecutor Ali Salehi said that calm had returned to the prison and that the unrest was not related to the protests which have swept the country for four weeks. IRNA later reported nine people had been injured, without elaborating. It published video showing burnt debris scattered around a building, with firefighters spraying down the blaze’s embers. Families of inmates gathered Sunday near the prison for news of the well-being of their loved ones inside. Masoumeh, 49, who only gave her first name, said his 19-year-old son was taken to prison two weeks ago after taking part in the street protests. “I cannot trust news about his health, I need to see him closely,” she said. Read more: Iran: Rising smoke seen from Evin prison videos posted online Another man, Reza, who also gave only his first name, said his brother has been in Evin prison since last year after he was involved in a violent quarrel. “He did not call us in recent days and following last night’s fire I am here to learn what happened to him,” he said. The US-based Center for Human Rights in Iran reported that an “armed conflict” broke out within the prison walls. It said shots were first heard in Ward 7 of the prison. This account could not immediately be corroborated. Footage of the fire circulated online. Videos showed shots ringing out as plumes of smoke rose into the sky amid the sound of an alarm. A protest broke out on the street soon after, with many chanting “Death to the Dictator!”, a reference to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and burning tires, the videos showed. The semiofficial Fars news agency, believed to be close to the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard, said Sunday that some prisoners who tried to escape entered a minefield situated in the northern part of the prison. “It is said the sound of explosions was related to the case,” the report said, offering no additional details. Witnesses said that police blocked roads and highways to Evin and that at least three strong explosions were heard from the prison area. Traffic was heavy along major freeways near the prison, which is in the north of the capital, and many people honked to show their solidarity with protests. Riot police were seen riding on motorbikes toward the facility, as were ambulances and firetrucks. Witnesses reported that the internet was blocked in the area. The prison fire occurred as protesters intensified anti-government demonstrations along main streets and at universities in some cities across Iran on Saturday. Human rights monitors reported hundreds dead, including children, as the movement concluded its fourth week. The protests erupted after public outrage over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody. She was arrested by Iran’s morality police in Tehran for violating the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code. Iran’s government insists Amini was not mistreated in police custody, but her family says her body showed bruises and other signs of beating after she was detained. On Sunday, Iran’s parliament published a statement claiming that Amini did not die from any physical blow but that she fell and police waited too long to get treatment for her. It urged police to offer an apology and provide more training to its staff. It suggested police wear cameras on their uniforms and install them in cars used to transfer detainees. President Joe Biden, on a trip to Oregon, said the Iranian “government is so oppressive” and that he had an “enormous amount of respect for people marching in the streets.” Evin Prison, which holds detainees facing security-related charges and includes dual citizens, has been charged by rights groups with abusing inmates. The facility has long been known for holding political prisoners as well as those with ties to the West who have been used by Iran as bargaining chips in international negotiations. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Fire at Iran's infamous Evin Prison extinguished. Four dead, 61 injured

US&nbsp;Special Envoy for&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;Robert Malley said on Sunday that he was not confident that a&nbsp;nuclear&nbsp;deal&nbsp;between world powers and&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;was imminent after 11 months of talks in Vienna that have stalled.

"I can't be confident it is imminent.. a few months ago we thought we were pretty close as well," Malley said at the Doha Forum international conference.

"The sooner we get back into the&nbsp;deal, which is in our interest, and presumably&nbsp;Iran's interest, the more faithfully we implement it."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/top-10-world-news-eu-says-nuclear-agreement-with-iran-very-close-and-more-465755">Top 10 world news: EU says nuclear agreement with Iran very close and more</a>

His assessment of negotiations in Vienna to revive a 2015&nbsp;nuclear&nbsp;accord seemed to contradict Kamal Kharrazi, a senior advisor to&nbsp;Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

"Yes, it's imminent. It depends on the political will of the United States," Kharrazi told the conference.

Then-US&nbsp;President Donald Trump abandoned the pact in 2018, prompting Tehran to start violating its&nbsp;nuclear&nbsp;limits about a year later, and months of on-and-off talks to revive it paused in Vienna earlier this month after Russia presented a new obstacle.

Russia later said it had received written guarantees that it would be able to carry out its work as a party to the&nbsp;deal, suggesting Moscow could allow it to be resuscitated.

The failure of efforts to restore the pact could carry the risk of a regional war, or lead to more harsh Western sanctions on&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;and continued upward pressure on world oil prices that are already high due to the Ukraine conflict, analysts say.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nuclear-agreement-with-iran-very-close-says-eu-465690">Nuclear agreement with Iran very close, says EU</a>

Kharrazi said it was vital for Washington to remove the foreign terrorist organisation (FTO) designation against&nbsp;Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

"IRGC is a national army and a national army being listed as a terrorist group certainly is not acceptable," he said.

Tehran has also been pushing for guarantees that any future US&nbsp;president would not withdraw from the&nbsp;deal, which would curb Tehran's&nbsp;nuclear&nbsp;programme in exchange for lifting tough sanctions which have hammered&nbsp;Iran's economy.

The extent to which sanctions would be rolled back is another sensitive subject.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Will Russia scuttle Iran nuclear deal?

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-will-russia-scuttle-iran-nuclear-deal-462985/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

US Special Envoy for Iran Robert Malley said on Sunday that he was not confident that a nuclear deal between world powers and Iran was imminent after 11 months of talks in Vienna that have stalled.

US Special Envoy for Iran Robert Malley said on Sunday that he was not confident that a nuclear deal between world powers and Iran was imminent after 11 months of talks in Vienna that have stalled. "I can't be confident it is imminent.. a few months ago we thought we were pretty close as well," Malley said at the Doha Forum international conference. "The sooner we get back into the deal, which is in our interest, and presumably Iran's interest, the more faithfully we implement it." Also read | Top 10 world news: EU says nuclear agreement with Iran very close and more His assessment of negotiations in Vienna to revive a 2015 nuclear accord seemed to contradict Kamal Kharrazi, a senior advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. "Yes, it's imminent. It depends on the political will of the United States," Kharrazi told the conference. Then-US President Donald Trump abandoned the pact in 2018, prompting Tehran to start violating its nuclear limits about a year later, and months of on-and-off talks to revive it paused in Vienna earlier this month after Russia presented a new obstacle. Russia later said it had received written guarantees that it would be able to carry out its work as a party to the deal, suggesting Moscow could allow it to be resuscitated. The failure of efforts to restore the pact could carry the risk of a regional war, or lead to more harsh Western sanctions on Iran and continued upward pressure on world oil prices that are already high due to the Ukraine conflict, analysts say. Also read | Nuclear agreement with Iran very close, says EU Kharrazi said it was vital for Washington to remove the foreign terrorist organisation (FTO) designation against Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). "IRGC is a national army and a national army being listed as a terrorist group certainly is not acceptable," he said. Tehran has also been pushing for guarantees that any future US president would not withdraw from the deal, which would curb Tehran's nuclear programme in exchange for lifting tough sanctions which have hammered Iran's economy. The extent to which sanctions would be rolled back is another sensitive subject. Watch | Gravitas: Will Russia scuttle Iran nuclear deal?

US envoy not confident Iran nuclear deal is imminent

In a major&nbsp;development, Iran and China have signed '25-year strategic cooperation pact'. This has brought&nbsp;the two US rivals closer to each other. It will be interesting to observe the ramifications of this move on the future of US-Iran nuclear deal.

An AFP correspondent reported that the deal was signed by Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The pact was kept under wraps.

The pact, which was first proposed in January 2016, forms part of Beijing's trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative, a plan to fund infrastructure projects and increase its sway overseas that has been a flagship project for Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The pact is expected to include Chinese investment in Iran's energy and infrastructure sectors. China is Iran's long time ally. In 2016, China agreed to boost bilateral trade by more than ten times to $600 billion in the next decade.

"We believe this document can be very effective in deepening" Iran-China relations, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said, recalling that the pact had first been proposed during a visit to Tehran by Chinese President Xi Jinping in January 2016.

Xi and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani agreed then to establish a roadmap for "reciprocal investments in the fields of transport, ports, energy, industry and services."

"Iran's government and people are striving as they always have to broaden relations with trustworthy, independent countries like China," supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said at the time, describing the proposed cooperation agreement as "correct and reasonable".

Xi has championed the Belt and Road Initiative, a plan to fund infrastructure projects and increase China's sway overseas.

'Nothing secret'

In July last year, controversy erupted over the proposed deal after former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad charged that negotiations were being held for a "new, 25-year agreement with a foreign country" without the knowledge of the Iranian people.

The foreign minister was heckled in parliament when he assured lawmakers there was "nothing secret" in the proposed deal, which he promised would be publicly announced "once it has been finalised".

The government has yet to honour that promise and few details have been made public.

Wang's visit to Tehran comes just days after he hosted Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov for talks in the Chinese city of Guilin.

The three governments all face difficult relations with Washington after President Joe Biden's administration vowed to remain firm in its dealings with them, despite a renewed emphasis on diplomacy.

China and Russia are both parties to the troubled 2015 nuclear accord with Iran that Biden has said he hopes to revive.

They were both deeply critical of the unilateral sanctions on Iran reimposed by Trump and have backed efforts to revive the agreement.

Biden has said he is not seeking "confrontation" with China, but that there will be intense competition between the rival superpowers.

"I told him (Xi) in person on several occasions we're not looking for confrontation, though we know that there will be steep, steep competition," the US president said.

(With AFP inputs)

In a major development, Iran and China have signed '25-year strategic cooperation pact'. This has brought the two US rivals closer to each other. It will be interesting to observe the ramifications of this move on the future of US-Iran nuclear deal.

In a major development, Iran and China have signed '25-year strategic cooperation pact'. This has brought the two US rivals closer to each other. It will be interesting to observe the ramifications of this move on the future of US-Iran nuclear deal. An AFP correspondent reported that the deal was signed by Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The pact was kept under wraps. The pact, which was first proposed in January 2016, forms part of Beijing's trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative, a plan to fund infrastructure projects and increase its sway overseas that has been a flagship project for Chinese President Xi Jinping. The pact is expected to include Chinese investment in Iran's energy and infrastructure sectors. China is Iran's long time ally. In 2016, China agreed to boost bilateral trade by more than ten times to $600 billion in the next decade. "We believe this document can be very effective in deepening" Iran-China relations, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said, recalling that the pact had first been proposed during a visit to Tehran by Chinese President Xi Jinping in January 2016. Xi and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani agreed then to establish a roadmap for "reciprocal investments in the fields of transport, ports, energy, industry and services." "Iran's government and people are striving as they always have to broaden relations with trustworthy, independent countries like China," supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said at the time, describing the proposed cooperation agreement as "correct and reasonable". Xi has championed the Belt and Road Initiative, a plan to fund infrastructure projects and increase China's sway overseas. 'Nothing secret' In July last year, controversy erupted over the proposed deal after former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad charged that negotiations were being held for a "new, 25-year agreement with a foreign country" without the knowledge of the Iranian people. The foreign minister was heckled in parliament when he assured lawmakers there was "nothing secret" in the proposed deal, which he promised would be publicly announced "once it has been finalised". The government has yet to honour that promise and few details have been made public. Wang's visit to Tehran comes just days after he hosted Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov for talks in the Chinese city of Guilin. The three governments all face difficult relations with Washington after President Joe Biden's administration vowed to remain firm in its dealings with them, despite a renewed emphasis on diplomacy. China and Russia are both parties to the troubled 2015 nuclear accord with Iran that Biden has said he hopes to revive. They were both deeply critical of the unilateral sanctions on Iran reimposed by Trump and have backed efforts to revive the agreement. Biden has said he is not seeking "confrontation" with China, but that there will be intense competition between the rival superpowers. "I told him (Xi) in person on several occasions we're not looking for confrontation, though we know that there will be steep, steep competition," the US president said. (With AFP inputs)

Iran-China sign '25-year strategic cooperation pact'