China and Pakistan are urging the United States and Iran to halt their renewed hostilities and immediately return to the negotiating table.
Following a meeting in Shanghai on Friday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar issued a joint statement expressing deep concern over the deteriorating situation in the Middle East. They emphasized the critical need for both parties to resume dialogue and salvage a preliminary peace agreement signed just a month ago. Wang highlighted that peace is "before our eyes" and warned against losing hard-won progress at this final hurdle.
The diplomatic appeal comes amid a sharp escalation in violence, with the US and Iran exchanging direct strikes on Friday. Tehran has accused Washington of targeting civilian infrastructure, including an airport, a railway station, and two bridges. In retaliation, Iran launched a barrage of drone strikes on US military allies and infrastructure located in Kuwait.
This latest wave of conflict reignited over the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Although the vital waterway was briefly reopened in June following the initial US-Iran deal, Tehran announced its closure last week, vowing to keep it shut until the US "ends its aggression". Concurrently, the United States has reinstated a blockade on Iranian ports.
Both China and Pakistan, having previously attempted to mediate the months-long crisis, are now pushing aggressively for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further regional instability.
