China on Thursday stepped up its calls for de‑escalation in the escalating Middle East conflict, urging all parties to halt fighting immediately.
The appeal came as tensions soared following increasingly forceful remarks from US President Donald Trump about the campaign against the Islamic Republic.
Beijing’s foreign ministry framed its message as a plea to prevent further destabilisation in a region already roiled by weeks of military engagements.
At a regular press briefing, China’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning stressed that “Military means cannot fundamentally solve the problem, and the escalation of conflicts is not in the interests of either side.”
Her remarks echoed broader concerns from Beijing about the human and economic toll of the hostilities, as well as fears that the crisis could spread beyond Iran’s borders unless steps are taken to calm the situation.
President Trump’s stance, by contrast, has been characterised by warnings of intensified strikes on Iran in the coming weeks after a major joint US‑Israeli military campaign that began late February.
In recent statements, Trump suggested that key military objectives have been met, but he also indicated that the United States could “hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks,” underscoring that Washington sees further operations as necessary.
The war, now well into its fifth week, has seen explosions in Tehran and Iranian missile and drone attacks across the region, with Iran continuing to retaliate against strikes that have targeted its infrastructure.
Global markets have reacted sharply to the conflict, with oil prices spiking amid fears over disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies and broader geopolitical uncertainty.
China’s call for an immediate ceasefire also aligns with diplomatic efforts by other nations to temper the violence and bring the conflicting parties back to the negotiating table.
While Trump has spoken of a possible end to major combat operations if Iran alters its actions, major world powers and regional actors continue to warn that only sustained dialogue, not military escalation, can end the bloodshed and instability gripping the Middle East.
