In a message posted on his X account in Chinese, Araqchi said the Islamic Republic of Iran was deeply saddened by the mining accident, which resulted in heavy casualties among miners in Shanxi Province.

The foreign minister extended condolences and sympathy on behalf of the Iranian government and people to the government and people of the People’s Republic of China, particularly to the families of the victims.

Araqchi also wished the bereaved families patience and strength in enduring their loss and expressed hope for the speedy recovery of those injured in the incident.

At least 90 people were killed in a gas explosion at a coal mine in China’s northern province of Shanxi, the country’s deadliest mining accident since at least 2009.

The gas explosion occurred late on Friday at the Liushenyu coal mine in Qinyuan county, with 247 workers on duty underground, state media Xinhua reported.

Shanxi is China’s coal-mining heartland.

President Xi Jinping called for authorities to “spare no effort” in treating the injured and conducting search and rescue operations, while ordering a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident and strict accountability in accordance with the law, according to Xinhua.