New images appear to show heavy damage from Iranian strikes on US bases in Middle East

At a security conference in Beijing, a contentious debate unfolded on Wednesday between a senior Iranian defence official and a Saudi think tank chief. Prince Turki al-Faisal, chairman of the Saudi think tank the King Faisal Centre for Research and Islamic Studies, accused Iran of disregarding the sovereignty of Arab states and carrying out unlawful attacks on their territories during the ongoing war in the Middle East.

In response, Brigadier General Mohammad Taghi Osanlou, deputy for operations of Iran's General Headquarters of the Armed Forces, firmly denied any wrongdoing on behalf of Tehran, stating that the attacks were directed at US military bases in Arab countries. Osanlou emphasized that Iran's primary target was the United States, not other Arab nations.

The Iranian defence official further blamed the US for escalating the conflict in the region, condemning its actions as a pursuit of unilateral hegemony. He called for the withdrawal of US military presence from the Middle East, arguing that as long as the US remains in the region, peace and stability cannot be achieved. Tehran also vowed not to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping lane that has been largely closed following US and Israeli strikes in February.

Osanlou highlighted Iran's extensive military buildup and expressed unwillingness to allow the strait's reopening.

Prince Turki repeatedly accused Iran of violating the 2023 agreement to restore diplomatic relations, signed in Beijing after a seven-year rupture. He urged China to ensure both parties adhere to the agreement and determine whether Iran or Saudi Arabia was at fault. Prince Turki also criticized Western nations, especially the US and Germany, for their support of Israel, which he claimed fueled regional conflicts.

He added that the 2003 US invasion of Iraq had contributed to the breakdown of alliances among neighboring countries, paving the way for powerful proxy forces allied with Iran to rise. Both Prince Turki and Osanlou endorsed China's proposals to address Middle East issues.