Live Middle East crisis: Trump claims Iran is ‘decimated’ as Gulf nations endure a surge of strikes

China’s foreign minister says Iran war ‘should never have happened’

Amy Hawkins

China’s foreign minister Wang Yi said the conflict in the Middle East “should never have occurred,” while adopting a more conciliatory stance toward the United States ahead of a much‑watched visit by Donald Trump.

Wang asserted on Sunday that the United‑States‑backed push for regime change in Iran “will not gain popular backing.” He added, “A heavy hand does not equal sound judgment. The world cannot revert to a law‑of‑the‑jungle mentality.”

Speaking on the margins of China’s annual parliamentary and political meetings, known as the Two Sessions, the senior diplomat refrained from directly attacking the United States.

Instead, Wang emphasized that China remains “committed to a spirit of mutual respect” in Sino‑American relations. He described recent talks between Trump and President Xi Jinping as “encouraging.”

Wang noted that 2026 is a “significant year for China‑U.S. ties” and urged both sides to “deal with one another in sincerity and good faith.”

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Donald Trump praised Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and said Italy was ready to assist the United States and Israel in their conflict with Iran, Italy’s *Corriere della Sera* reported on Sunday.

In a telephone interview with the newspaper on Saturday, Trump called Meloni “a great leader” and said Italy was doing what it could to help.

“I love Italy, I think she is a great leader,” Trump was quoted as saying of Meloni.

“She always tries to help, she is an excellent leader and she is a friend of mine.”

Meloni announced on Thursday that Italy intends to provide air‑defence equipment to Gulf states in response to Iranian air strikes.

A navy vessel from Italy is also set to sail to Cyprus, a navy spokesperson said on Friday, as part of a joint European operation to safeguard the island after it was hit by Iranian fire.

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Updated at 08.20 CET

Israel’s armed forces said on Sunday they had hit a group of fighter jets that pre‑revolutionary Iran bought from the United States.

The F‑14 fleet stationed at Isfahan Airport, south of Tehran, has long been a cornerstone of Iran’s air force and was historically used to protect its airspace.

The Israeli military did not confirm whether the aircraft were destroyed. It also reported strikes on detection and air‑defence installations.

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A broad consensus on a successor to Iran’s slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has largely been reached, Assembly of Experts member Ayatollah Mohammadmehdi Mirbaqeri told *Mehr* news agency on Sunday.

He added, however, that “some obstacles” remain to be cleared regarding the selection process, according to the report.

Iranian media said the body responsible for appointing the supreme leader had a minor dispute over whether the final decision must be made after an in‑person meeting or through an alternative procedure.