BEIJING: China on Monday urged the United States and Iran to begin peace talks “as soon as possible”, while praising Pakistan for its ongoing mediation efforts amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
“China calls on relevant parties to start peace talks without delay,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters, emphasizing that Beijing supports all initiatives that promote de-escalation and dialogue.
“We commend Pakistan for its efforts to ease tensions,” Mao added, responding to questions from Anadolu Agency. She also highlighted China’s readiness to work with Pakistan and other parties to strengthen coordination, aiming to end hostilities and safeguard regional peace and stability.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar recently said Islamabad would be “honoured” to host US-Iran talks as part of its broader mediation efforts. The country also hosted a quadrilateral foreign ministers’ meeting focused on easing the conflict.
Mao reiterated China’s opposition to attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, stressing that “military means will not solve the root cause. The conflict serves no one’s interests.”
The Middle East has witnessed escalating violence since Israel and the US launched an offensive against Iran on February 28, killing over 1,400 people, including Iran’s then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties, infrastructure damage, and disruptions to global markets and aviation.
