Beijing, May 28:
China has expressed support for Pakistan’s efforts to mediate between the United States and Iran amid ongoing tensions in West Asia. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Tuesday that negotiations between Washington and Tehran were key because the two countries were the main parties involved in the conflict.
Speaking during a visit to the United Nations headquarters in New York, Wang said China welcomed the “active mediation” by Pakistan and other countries seeking to ease tensions.
He revealed that before travelling to New York, he had met Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir and discussed regional developments. Wang also said China supported diplomatic efforts being made separately by both the US and Iran.
China currently holds the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council for May and hosted a debate focused on strengthening the UN-centred international system. During his visit, Wang also met UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Referring to the US-Iran tensions, Wang said long-standing disputes could not be resolved overnight, but each step forward in negotiations increased hopes for peace. He urged all parties to remain committed to a ceasefire and continue working toward compromise so that stability could return to the Middle East. Wang added that any final agreement should be submitted to the UN Security Council for endorsement to ensure international legitimacy and authority.
The remarks came after Munir visited Iran last week and held high-level meetings with Iranian leaders amid the ongoing tensions. He later travelled to China with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing during Sharif’s four-day official visit.
Meanwhile, US Senator Lindsey Graham criticised Pakistan’s role as a mediator, describing it as “problematic” because of Islamabad’s long-standing hostility toward Israel. Graham also referred to reports claiming Iranian military aircraft had used Pakistani air bases to avoid possible US strikes, allegations Pakistan has rejected as misleading.
The criticism followed comments by Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khwaja Asif, who reiterated that Pakistan would not join the Abraham Accords, the US-backed agreements aimed at normalising relations between Israel and several Arab nations.