Iran’s defense minister has traveled to diplomatic and economic ally China on his first reported trip abroad since a 12-day clash with Israel that briefly dragged the US into a new regional conflict.

Iran conflict, China moved quickly to position itself as a potential mediator and voice of reason amid a spiralling regional crisis. The day after Israel’s unprovoked attack on Iran on June 13, Beijing reached out to both sides to express its desire for a mediated solution even as the country’s top diplomat,

The Power of Siberia 2 project has been stalled for years, but Beijing is growing concerned about the reliability of oil and gas from the Middle East.