China ready to offer assistance to Iran, Iraq over earthquake

BEIJING - China on Tuesday expressed its deep concern and sympathy to quake-hit Iran and Iraq, saying it stood ready to offer assistance.

A magnitude 7.3 earthquake jolted the Iran-Iraq border area Sunday, causing the deaths of at least 445 people while injuring more than 7,000.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a daily press briefing that China extended its deep condolences to the victims and sincere sympathies to those injured, and all their families.

"Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent condolences to Iraqi President Fuad Masum and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Premier Li Keqiang has also sent a message of condolence to his Iraqi counterpart Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi," Geng said. "China is closely following the situation and willing to offer necessary assistance to the two countries in light of their needs."

The epicenter of the quake was located approximately 32 km south of the city of Halabja in a remote mountainous region of eastern Iraq, some 200 km northeast of Baghdad and 400 km west of Tehran, according to the United States Geological Survey.