China and Pakistan on Friday called on the United States and Iran to immediately end hostilities and return to negotiations, as renewed military exchanges between the two countries raised concerns over further escalation in the Middle East. The appeal was made after a meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Shanghai. In a statement issued by China’s foreign ministry, both ministers expressed concern over the worsening situation and urged the involved parties to stop fighting and resume diplomatic engagement.

They said the countries should return to dialogue to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict. China and Pakistan have previously sought to play a mediating role in the months-long confrontation between Washington and Tehran. The latest escalation followed renewed fighting over the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, despite a preliminary agreement signed last month that was aimed at ending the conflict. Wang Yi described the earlier agreement as “hard-won” and warned against losing progress made through diplomatic efforts. He said peace was within reach and urged all sides to avoid actions that could undermine negotiations.

“Peace is before our eyes, (we) cannot fall at the last hurdle and even more so cannot lose what we have gained,” Wang said, according to the statement released by China’s foreign ministry. The diplomatic appeal came as the United States and Iran exchanged fresh strikes on Friday. Tehran accused Washington of targeting civilian infrastructure, including an airport, railway station and two bridges. Iranian officials said the attacks caused casualties and intensified concerns over the humanitarian impact of the conflict. In response to the US strikes, Iran said it launched a series of drone attacks against US allies and infrastructure in Kuwait.

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The retaliatory actions have increased fears that the conflict could expand beyond direct US-Iran confrontation and draw in additional countries in the region. The Strait of Hormuz has remained a central issue in the conflict due to its importance for global energy shipments. The waterway, located between Iran and Oman, handles a significant portion of global oil and gas traffic. Any disruption in the strait has the potential to affect international energy markets and shipping routes. The passage was briefly reopened after the US-Iran agreement reached in June, but Tehran announced last week that it would close the strait again until the United States ended what it described as aggression.

Washington has also reintroduced a blockade affecting Iran’s ports, further increasing pressure on Tehran. The renewed fighting has complicated diplomatic efforts to restore stability in the region. While China and Pakistan have urged both sides to return to negotiations, the latest exchange of attacks suggests that tensions remain high. With military operations continuing and key regional waterways affected, international observers are closely watching efforts to revive talks between Washington and Tehran. The success of diplomatic initiatives could determine whether the conflict moves towards a negotiated settlement or enters a prolonged phase of confrontation.

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