China Urges US and Iran to Maintain Momentum After Swiss Peace Talks

Following high-level talks between US and Iranian officials in Switzerland, China has urged both nations to continue working toward a final peace agreement.

During a press conference in Beijing on Monday (June 22), Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiaqun stated that Beijing sincerely hopes Washington and Tehran will sustain their current dialogue and achieve lasting success.

China's response followed a joint announcement of diplomatic progress at the conclusion of the Lake Lucerne summit in Bürgenstock, Switzerland. Pakistan and Qatar, who mediated the talks, issued a joint statement describing the summit's atmosphere as "positive and constructive."

The mediators noted encouraging progress, including the creation of a technical-level mechanism to advance the ongoing peace process and finalize future details. In response, Guo emphasized, “China fully supports this commendable mediation effort by all parties concerned, including Pakistan and Qatar.”

The US delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance, and the Iranian delegation, headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, held intensive discussions to implement the historic Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which was signed on June 17.

Following the dialogue, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi took to social media to praise Pakistan and Qatar's tireless diplomatic efforts. He noted that the talks with the US have paved the way to end the border conflict in Lebanon and secure legal exemptions for Iranian oil and petrochemical exports, easing pressure on Iran's economy.

The negotiations also yielded specific commitments to lift the naval blockade on Iran, unfreeze state financial assets, and initiate a major reconstruction and economic development plan for the country.