BEIJING — China has welcomed a ceasefire in the Middle East, emphasizing its role in facilitating an agreement between the United States and Iran to pause hostilities for two weeks.
Under the agreement, Tehran has temporarily reopened the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial corridor for global oil, gas, and fertiliser shipments, easing concerns for the global economy. The announcement came just before a deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump, who had threatened severe military action if Iran failed to negotiate.
Trump told AFP that he believed China, which has actively mediated since the outbreak of the conflict, played a role in bringing Iran to the negotiating table.
At a regular news briefing on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said, “China welcomes relevant parties announcing the reaching of a ceasefire agreement,” without directly addressing Trump’s remarks.
She highlighted Beijing’s ongoing engagement, noting that Foreign Minister Wang Yi had held 26 calls with international counterparts and that China’s Middle East envoy had “shuttled across” the conflict region. Mao added that China would continue its efforts “to ease the situation and achieve a complete end to the war.”
According to Washington, the ceasefire entails a U.S. suspension of attacks on Iran for two weeks, while Tehran temporarily reopens the Strait of Hormuz. Israel has expressed support for the pause in U.S. strikes but clarified that the ceasefire does not cover Lebanon.
Meanwhile, Iran has submitted a 10-point plan aimed at ending the conflict, which Trump described as “workable,” opening a potential pathway for further negotiations.