The foreign ministers of China and Pakistan on Friday called on the United States and Iran to stop fighting and resume talks, according to a Chinese government statement.
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Wang Yi and Ishaq Dar, who met in Shanghai, jointly “expressed their concern over the deterioration of the current situation, calling on the parties concerned to immediately cease hostilities (…) (and) to resume dialogue”, specifies the press release from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The two countries have been trying for months to mediate in the conflict in the Middle East, reignited by the resumption of fighting around the Strait of Hormuz, a month after the signing of a preliminary agreement aimed at ending the war.
This agreement was “obtained through great efforts,” Wang Yi said.
“Peace is within reach. We cannot fail at the last hurdle, let alone lose what has been acquired,” he added.
The United States and Iran exchanged strikes again on Friday. Tehran has accused Washington of targeting civilian infrastructure, including an airport, a railway station and two bridges.
In retaliation, Iran claimed to have launched a salvo of drones against US military allies and infrastructure in Kuwait.
The Strait of Hormuz briefly reopened after Washington and Tehran agreed in June, but Iran announced last week that it would remain closed “until the United States ends its aggression.”
The United States also reestablished a blockade of Iranian ports.
