On January 15, 2018, Foreign Minister Wang Yi sent a message of condolences to Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif of Iran over the sinking of the Sanchi oil tanker after a collision accident in the East China Sea which unfortunately caused death of 30 Iranian sailors aboard. Wang Yi expressed profound condolences to the victims and sincere sympathies to the bereaved families. Wang Yi said that after the accident, China has made its utmost efforts in the search and rescue operations of the sailors aboard and maintained close cooperation with Iran. China is willing to continue maintaining coordination with Iran in the follow-up work.