<p>China on Friday appealed for restraint from all sides, "especially the United States", after top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani was killed in a US strike in Iraq.</p>.<p>The Pentagon said President Donald Trump ordered Soleimani's "killing," after a pro-Iran mob this week laid siege to the US embassy in Baghdad.</p>.<p>Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed to take "severe revenge" after Soleimani was killed when a volley of missiles hit Baghdad's international airport, striking a convoy belonging to the Hashed al-Shaabi, an Iraqi paramilitary force with close ties to Tehran.</p>.<p>"China has always opposed the use of force in international relations," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a daily press briefing.</p>.<p>"We urge the relevant sides, especially the United States, to remain calm and exercise restraint to avoid further escalating tensions," Geng said.</p>.<p>He said Iraq's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity must be respected.</p>.<p>China, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, is a key partner of Iran and a major buyer of the country's oil.</p>.<p>Geng said China urged all sides to abide by the principles of the UN charter and the "basic norms of international relations".</p>.<p>Iran, China and Russia held joint naval drills in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Oman last week and the Iranian foreign minister visited Beijing earlier this week.</p>.<p>China and Russia are also parties to the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, from which Trump withdrew in May last year. </p>
<p>China on Friday appealed for restraint from all sides, "especially the United States", after top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani was killed in a US strike in Iraq.</p>.<p>The Pentagon said President Donald Trump ordered Soleimani's "killing," after a pro-Iran mob this week laid siege to the US embassy in Baghdad.</p>.<p>Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed to take "severe revenge" after Soleimani was killed when a volley of missiles hit Baghdad's international airport, striking a convoy belonging to the Hashed al-Shaabi, an Iraqi paramilitary force with close ties to Tehran.</p>.<p>"China has always opposed the use of force in international relations," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a daily press briefing.</p>.<p>"We urge the relevant sides, especially the United States, to remain calm and exercise restraint to avoid further escalating tensions," Geng said.</p>.<p>He said Iraq's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity must be respected.</p>.<p>China, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, is a key partner of Iran and a major buyer of the country's oil.</p>.<p>Geng said China urged all sides to abide by the principles of the UN charter and the "basic norms of international relations".</p>.<p>Iran, China and Russia held joint naval drills in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Oman last week and the Iranian foreign minister visited Beijing earlier this week.</p>.<p>China and Russia are also parties to the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, from which Trump withdrew in May last year. </p>