Latest news with #RavitBaer
MTV Lebanon
2 days ago
- Business
- MTV Lebanon
Israel urges China to pressure Iran to rein in nuclear ambitions
Israel urged China to use its economic and political sway to rein in Iran's military and nuclear ambitions. 'China is the only one capable of influencing Iran,' Ravit Baer, Israel's consul general in Shanghai, told reporters on Tuesday in the city. 'Iran would collapse if China didn't buy its oil.' Baer's remarks come with Israel-China relations under strain because of Israel's war in Gaza and last month's attacks on Iran, a key Middle Eastern partner of Beijing. Baer reiterated her comments in a Bloomberg TV interview on Wednesday, saying China's purchases of Iranian oil gives it influence over Tehran. 'Unfortunately, a lot of the money and the revenues that come from selling oil — Iranian oil — in Iran goes to Iran's malign activities in the region,' Baer said in the television interview. The Iranian consulate in Shanghai and the Chinese Foreign Ministry didn't immediately reply to requests for comment. During Israel and Iran's 12-day war, the Islamic Republic's military and nuclear sites were significantly damaged and several top army commanders and atomic scientists were killed. The US brokered a ceasefire that began last week, though Tehran voiced skepticism about the durability of the truce and said it's prepared to retaliate against any renewed aggression from Israel. China and Russia — Iran's main partners among world powers — both condemned Israel's strikes, but did little to support Tehran. Beijing has also consistently called for Israel to end its conflict in Gaza against Hamas and take steps toward a two-state solution for the Palestinians, something Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says would threaten his country's security. China buys around 90 percent of Iran's oil exports of roughly 1.7 million barrels a day. In addition, Beijing signed a strategic partnership in 2021 outlining $400 billion of potential Chinese investments over 25 years in Iran. 'They can pressure Iran, they have political power over Iran, they can help change its maligned activities in the region,' Baer said. 'There are many things China can do.' Still, there's little evidence China would be able to sway Iran significantly with regard to military and nuclear strategy. While Tehran has built deeper ties in recent years with Beijing and Moscow, it's always pushed back against the prospect of foreign interference in key policy decisions. Moreover, President Xi Jinping will likely prefer to focus on economic ties when it comes to relations with Iran. 'I don't think China is interested in being a mediator' between Israel and Iran, Baer said. 'Being a mediator is a big responsibility, requires lots of money and hard decisions.' She added that Israel's relations with China — Israel's biggest trading partner after the US — haven't significantly deteriorated despite the conflicts since 2023. 'We're still having good conversations,' she said. 'Even if we disagree politically, it doesn't mean you cannot cooperate.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Israel calls on China to rein in Iran's military and nuclear ambitions
China and Russia stood by Iran in March after the US demanded nuclear talks with Tehran, with senior Chinese and Russian diplomats saying dialogue should only resume based on "mutual respect." Israel has called on China to use its economic and political influence to curb Iran's military and nuclear ambitions, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday. 'China is the only one capable of influencing Iran,' Consul-General in Shanghai Ravit Baer said. 'Iran would collapse if China didn't buy its oil,' she added. Both China and Russia stood by Iran in March after the US demanded nuclear talks with Tehran, with senior Chinese and Russian diplomats saying dialogue should only resume based on "mutual respect" and all sanctions ought to be lifted, The Jerusalem Post previously reported. 'They can pressure Iran. They have political power over Iran. They can help change its malign activities in the region,' she said. 'There are many things China can do.' However, despite the fact that both countries have close relations with the Islamic Republic, neither offered assistance in the 12-day war between Israel and Iran. 'I don't think China is interested in being a mediator' between Israel and Iran, Baer said. 'Being a mediator is a big responsibility, requires lots of money, and hard decisions.' According to Bloomberg, Baer added that Israel's relations with China, its second-largest trading partner after the US, haven't worsened much despite conflicts since 2023. 'We're still having good conversations,' she said. 'Even if we disagree politically, it doesn't mean you cannot cooperate.' This is a developing report.
Al Arabiya
3 days ago
- Business
- Al Arabiya
Israel urges China to pressure Iran to rein in nuclear ambitions
Israel urged China to use its economic and political sway to rein in Iran's military and nuclear ambitions. 'China is the only one capable of influencing Iran,' Ravit Baer, Israel's consul general in Shanghai, told reporters on Tuesday in the city. 'Iran would collapse if China didn't buy its oil.' Baer's remarks come with Israel-China relations under strain because of Israel's war in Gaza and last month's attacks on Iran, a key Middle Eastern partner of Beijing. Baer reiterated her comments in a Bloomberg TV interview on Wednesday, saying China's purchases of Iranian oil gives it influence over Tehran. 'Unfortunately, a lot of the money and the revenues that come from selling oil — Iranian oil — in Iran goes to Iran's malign activities in the region,' Baer said in the television interview. The Iranian consulate in Shanghai and the Chinese Foreign Ministry didn't immediately reply to requests for comment. During Israel and Iran's 12-day war, the Islamic Republic's military and nuclear sites were significantly damaged and several top army commanders and atomic scientists were killed. The US brokered a ceasefire that began last week, though Tehran voiced skepticism about the durability of the truce and said it's prepared to retaliate against any renewed aggression from Israel. China and Russia — Iran's main partners among world powers — both condemned Israel's strikes, but did little to support Tehran. Beijing has also consistently called for Israel to end its conflict in Gaza against Hamas and take steps toward a two-state solution for the Palestinians, something Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says would threaten his country's security. China buys around 90 percent of Iran's oil exports of roughly 1.7 million barrels a day. In addition, Beijing signed a strategic partnership in 2021 outlining $400 billion of potential Chinese investments over 25 years in Iran. 'They can pressure Iran, they have political power over Iran, they can help change its maligned activities in the region,' Baer said. 'There are many things China can do.' Still, there's little evidence China would be able to sway Iran significantly with regard to military and nuclear strategy. While Tehran has built deeper ties in recent years with Beijing and Moscow, it's always pushed back against the prospect of foreign interference in key policy decisions. Moreover, President Xi Jinping will likely prefer to focus on economic ties when it comes to relations with Iran. 'I don't think China is interested in being a mediator' between Israel and Iran, Baer said. 'Being a mediator is a big responsibility, requires lots of money and hard decisions.' She added that Israel's relations with China — Israel's biggest trading partner after the US — haven't significantly deteriorated despite the conflicts since 2023. 'We're still having good conversations,' she said. 'Even if we disagree politically, it doesn't mean you cannot cooperate.'
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Israel urges China to pressure Iran to rein in nuclear ambitions
FILE PHOTO: People walk amidst debris at the Evin prison after Israeli air strikes the previous month, in Tehran, on July 1, 2025. During Israel and Iran's 12-day war, the Islamic Republic's military and nuclear sites were significantly damaged and several top army commanders and atomic scientists were killed. - AFP SHANGHAI: Israel urged China to use its economic and political sway to rein in Iran's military and nuclear ambitions. "China is the only one capable of influencing Iran,' Ravit Baer, Israel's Consul General in Shanghai, told reporters on Tuesday (July 1) in the city. "Iran would collapse if China didn't buy its oil.' Baer's remarks come with Israel-China relations under strain because of the Jewish state's war in Gaza and last month's attacks on Iran, a key Middle Eastern partner of Beijing. During Israel and Iran's 12-day war, the Islamic Republic's military and nuclear sites were significantly damaged and several top army commanders and atomic scientists were killed. The US brokered a ceasefire that began last week, though Tehran's voiced skepticism about the durability of the truce and said it's prepared to retaliate against any renewed aggression from Israel. China and Russia - Iran's main partners among world powers - both condemned Israel's strikes, but did little to support Tehran. Beijing has also consistently called for Israel to end its conflict in Gaza against Hamas and take steps toward a two-state solution for the Palestinians, something Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says would threaten his country's security. China buys around 90 per cent of Iran's oil exports of roughly 1.7 million barrels a day. In addition, Beijing signed a strategic partnership in 2021 outlining US$400 billion of potential Chinese investments over 25 years in Iran. "They can pressure Iran, they have political power over Iran, they can help change its maligned activities in the region,' she said. "There are many things China can do.'i Still, there's little evidence China would be able to sway Iran significantly with regards to military and nuclear strategy. While Tehran has built deeper ties in recent years with Beijing and Moscow, it's always pushed back against the prospect of foreign interference in key policy decisions. Moreover, President Xi Jinping will likely prefer to focus on economic ties when it comes to relations with Iran. "I don't think China is interested in being a mediator' between Israel and Iran, Baer said. "Being a mediator is a big responsibility, requires lots of money and hard decisions.' She added that Israel's relations with China - the Jewish state's biggest trading partner after the US - haven't significantly deteriorated despite the conflicts since 2023. "We're still having good conversations,' she said. "Even if we disagree politically, it doesn't mean you cannot cooperate.' - Bloomberg
Bloomberg
3 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Israel Urges China to Put Economic Pressure on Iran
Israel's Consul General in Shanghai, Ravit Baer, says China should use its economic and political influence to rein in Iran's military and nuclear ambitions. Speaking to The China Show, Baer said China is the only one capable of influencing Iran. Bloomberg has reached out to the Iranian consulate in Shanghai for a response. (Source: Bloomberg)
