By Agence France-Pressee

MOSCOW, Russia — Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Thursday strongly condemned Israeli attacks on Iran in a phone call, the Kremlin said, adding that both leaders called for a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

“Both sides adhere to identical approaches, strongly condemn Israel’s actions,” Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters, adding that Moscow and Beijing believed the end to the hostilities “should be achieved exclusively by political and diplomatic means”.

In the same phone call, Xi said a ceasefire between Iran and Israel was the “top priority,” Chinese state media reported.

“Promoting a ceasefire and cessation of hostilities is the top priority. Armed force is not the correct way to resolve international disputes,” Xi said, according to Xinhua.

Israel last week launched an unprecedented bombing campaign hitting Iranian nuclear and military facilities, as well as residential areas.

Iran has responded by launching missiles and drones, and early Wednesday said it had fired hypersonic missiles at Israel.

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed on Wednesday that his country would show no mercy towards Israel’s rulers, hours after US President Donald Trump demanded Tehran’s “unconditional surrender.” © Agence France-Presse