Vice President Han Zheng took the podium at the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday to confront the United States over its policies toward Iran and Cuba. In a speech that avoided naming Washington directly, Han called on the “relevant country” to stop threatening Cuba and lift its blockade, while stressing that the sovereignty of Gulf states must be respected.
Han’s remarks came amid a backdrop of heightened US pressure on Cuba, which has largely blocked oil shipments to the island, and a renewed US‑Israeli campaign against Iran that began with strikes in February. The Chinese leader also echoed concerns that Beijing had supplied Iran with shoulder‑fired air‑defence missile launchers and that Tehran had found ways to evade sanctions on its oil sales with Chinese help.
“Major countries should have special responsibilities for safeguarding international peace and security, and they should take the lead in complying with the rules, upholding rule of law, and doing what’s right,” Han said. He added that China “holds that the sovereignty and security of countries in the Middle East, including the Gulf, should be respected.”
Hours after Han’s address, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov echoed the Chinese stance, calling on Washington to lift the “siege” of Cuba and urging the US to strike Cuba off the list of state sponsors of terrorism. The remarks came as Cuba’s electrical grid collapsed earlier this month, plunging millions into darkness amid the US‑imposed oil blockade that began in January.
Earlier this week, President Donald Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House, celebrating the visit with military flyovers and a lavish state dinner. Trump warned Xi against providing support to Iran during Washington talks, a warning that the US ambassador to China confirmed Beijing would not comply with.
China positioned itself as a reliable partner on the global stage, insisting that all countries, big or small, are equal members of the international community and that world affairs should be handled by all through consultation. The UN session ended with a call for a more balanced approach to international relations, with China urging the US to respect sovereignty and lift its blockade on Cuba.
