As an unprecedented Israeli attack on Iran last week sparks a spiraling conflict between the two enemy states, China has seen an opportunity to cast itself as potential peace broker – and an alternative voice to the United States.

Israel and Iran have begun a new round of attacks, as the conflict between the two heavily armed rivals enters its fourth day.

In May 2025, the US and Israel then advanced a new aid mechanism for Gaza run by private security contractors operating in Israeli-approved “safe zones”. Aid is conditional on population displacement, with civilians in northern Gaza denied access unless they relocate.

India broke with the rest of the group, led by Russia and China, in a balancing act. What were New Delhi’s compulsions?

With Moscow’s back to the wall in Ukraine, Tehran may soon see that its new ‘strategic partnership’ with the Kremlin is not much help.

There were some awkward moments during their Oval Office meeting in May, when Carney pushed back on Trump’s remarks about making Canada the 51st US state. But in Canada, the PM was praised for how he handled that high-stakes meeting.

Trump posted online that he got a birthday greeting from Putin, with whom he agreed Iran-Israel war must end, and said he told Putin "his war" should end, too.

Russia and Israel have built a close political, economic and cultural relationship that helped them tackle delicate and divisive issues, including developments in Syria.