China has called on the United States and Iran to refrain from the use of force and resolve their disagreements through negotiations. Beijing issued the statement following the renewed military confrontation between the two sides.
At a briefing on 8 July, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that the resumption of hostilities served neither side’s interests and that military means could not resolve the underlying causes of the dispute. She said Washington and Tehran should fully implement the memorandum of understanding they had signed and settle their differences through dialogue and negotiations.
Beijing’s statement followed a new round of US strikes against Iran. According to the US side, American forces targeted more than 80 military sites, an operation Washington justified as necessary to protect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran described the US strikes as an act of aggression and carried out retaliatory attacks against American military facilities in the region.
The United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding in mid-June. The interim agreement provided for a cessation of hostilities, the gradual restoration of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and the launch of 60 days of negotiations. However, the main points of contention between the two sides, including Iran’s nuclear programme, were left for a final agreement.
The renewed clashes have cast doubt on the implementation of the memorandum and on the prospects of preventing a broader military confrontation in the region.
