China's top envoy tells his Iranian counterpart a ‘comprehensive
ceasefire’ is needed
[May 06, 2026]
By E. EDUARDO CASTILLO
BEIJING (AP) — China's foreign minister called for a comprehensive
ceasefire in the Iran war and said his country was “deeply distressed”
by the conflict that has lasted two months.
Wang Yi made the comments Wednesday after meeting with Iranian Foreign
Minister Abbas Araghchi, who was visiting Beijing for the first time
since the war with the U.S. and Israel started Feb. 28.
The Chinese comments could inject new energy into stalled efforts to
push for an agreement between the United States and Iran that would end
the war. They followed an earlier statement by U.S. President Donald
Trump that he was pausing his short-lived U.S. effort to guide stranded
vessels to guide commercial ships out of the Strait of Hormuz in hopes
that a deal could be finalized.
Iran’s effective closure of the strait, a vital waterway through which
major oil and gas supplies, fertilizer and other petroleum products
passed before the war, has sent fuel prices skyrocketing, rattled the
global economy and put enormous economic pressure on countries including
major powers like China.
“We believe that a comprehensive ceasefire is urgently needed, that a
resumption of hostilities is not acceptable, and that it is particularly
important to remain committed to dialogue and negotiations,” Wang said,
according to a video of the meeting.
The Chinese foreign minister said the conflict “has already lasted for
more than two months. It has not only caused serious losses to the
Iranian people, but also had a severe impact on regional and global
peace. China is deeply distressed by this.”
[to top of second column]
|
In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese Foreign
Minister Wang Yi, second right, talks to his Iranian Counterpart
Abbas Araghchi, left, during the bilateral meeting in Beijing,
Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (Cai Yang/Xinhua via AP)
China's close economic and political ties to Tehran give it a unique
position of influence. The Trump administration is pressing China to
use that relationship to urge the Islamic Republic to open the
Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed a hope that Beijing
would reiterate the need for Iran to release its chokehold on the
strait, which would deny its main source of leverage as Trump
demands a major rollback of Tehran’s disputed nuclear program.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Beijing has made
clear that the relevant sides must act “with prudence” and resolve
the conflict through dialogue in order to restore peace. He added
that China has been actively promoting peace talks and will continue
to do so.
Araghchi’s visit comes a week before Trump is expected to arrive in
Beijing for a high-profile summit. The May 14-15 trip with Chinese
President Xi Jinping would be Trump’s first visit to China during
his second term and the first by a U.S. president since Trump
visited in 2017.
“I hope the Chinese tell him what he needs to be told,” Rubio said
during a White House briefing Tuesday. “And that is that what you
are doing in the strait is causing you to be globally isolated.
You’re the bad guy in this.”
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved |
