Iranian foreign minister to visit China for talks as U.S. reports war costs

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is scheduled to visit China on Wednesday for talks with Foreign Minister Wang Yi, according to Beijing’s Foreign Ministry. The meeting comes as China continues to call for a ceasefire and a negotiated settlement in the Middle East conflict. The visit follows comments from President Donald Trump, who dismissed reports that China had provided Iran with satellite imagery before an Iranian attack in Jordan. Trump is also expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in the U.S. later this month, although Beijing has not confirmed the meeting. Separately, a U.S. Defense Department report said the Iran war had cost an estimated $33.4 billion by June 29. The report said Iranian strikes damaged hundreds of buildings and structures at U.S. bases in the Middle East, along with dozens of U.S. aircraft and diplomatic facilities in several countries.