Chinese FM urges immediate halt to military operations

Foreign Minister Wang Yi, expressing China's position on the situation in Iran, urged an immediate cessation of military operations, a prompt return to dialogue and negotiations, and a joint opposition to unilateral actions.

Wang made the statement on Sunday during his telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov after the United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran on Saturday.

The talks came following an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council jointly initiated by China and Russia.

Wang said that China consistently advocates for adherence to the principles and purposes of the UN Charter and opposes the use of force in international relations.

The attacks by the US and Israel on Iran during the Iran-US negotiation process are unacceptable, as is the blatant assassination of a leader of a sovereign state and the incitement of regime change, he noted, adding these actions have violated international law and fundamental norms of international relations.

He emphasized that currently, the conflict has spread throughout the Persian Gulf, and the Middle East situation risks being pushed to a dangerous brink, a possibility China is "highly concerned" about.

Wang urged immediately ceasing military actions to prevent the spread and spillover of the conflict and avoid the situation from becoming uncontrollable.

China values the security of the Gulf countries and supports them in maintaining a restrained attitude, he said.

While emphasizing the importance of returning to dialogue and negotiation, Wang said that all parties should make every effort to promote peace and discourage war and urge the involved parties to return to talks as soon as possible.

He stressed that launching military strikes against a sovereign state without authorization of the UN Security Council undermines the peace foundation established after World War II. He called on the international community to clearly and unequivocally voice opposition to the world reverting to the law of the jungle.

Lavrov said that the US-Israel military strikes against Iran severely undermine the stability of the Middle East region.

Russia shares the same position as China, and is willing to strengthen coordination and communication with China on the situation, using platforms such as the UN and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to send a clear signal to call for an immediate cessation of war and a return to the diplomatic negotiation process, he said.