China hopes Middle East escalation will not continue

Beijing (ANTARA) - The Chinese government hopes that the escalation in the Middle East will not continue amid the exchange of attacks between the United States and Iran, particularly concerning traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. ‘China is deeply concerned about the latest escalation in the Middle East and the Gulf region. We are ready to continue acting on the four proposals put forward by President Xi Jinping, make further efforts to facilitate the cessation of hostilities, and work tirelessly to de-escalate the situation and restore peace in the region,’ said Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian at a press conference in Beijing on Thursday (23/7). The US and Iran had actually signed an agreement on peace and a cessation of conflict, which began in late February, on 18 June 2026. However, since 8 July, US forces have launched several waves of attacks against Iran again. ‘The outcome of the negotiations was not easily achieved, further fighting benefits no one, and the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of countries in the region must be respected and upheld,’ Lin Jian added. The relevant parties, Lin Jian stated, need to remain calm, exercise restraint, cease hostilities, resume communication and dialogue, resolve disputes through political and diplomatic means, and strive for a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire as soon as possible. US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that the attacks were a response to Iran’s actions against commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. In retaliation, Iran launched attacks on several US military bases in the Middle East. President Donald Trump subsequently declared that the ceasefire between the United States and Iran was no longer in effect. On Wednesday (22/7) evening, CENTCOM announced it had completed a new series of strikes against Iranian military targets, marking the 12th consecutive night of military aggression against Iran. CENTCOM added that the various strikes targeted Iran’s maritime capabilities, missile and drone storage facilities, various coastal surveillance posts, and a number of air defence assets. ‘These strikes further degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial vessels,’ CENTCOM said. Additionally, CENTCOM stated that its forces had diverted nine commercial vessels and disabled one ship in an effort to prevent vessels from entering or leaving ports in Iran. More than 50,000 US military personnel, CENTCOM continued, remain deployed throughout the Middle East region and are in a state of high alert, focused, lethal, and ready. Iranian state media reported that US missiles struck locations near the cities of Ahvaz, Ramshir, and Andimeshk in western Iran, hit a power plant near the Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran, and killed two people in the city of Shalamcheh on the Iran-Iraq border. On the same Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on social media platform X that Iran would adopt a ‘tit-for-tat’ defence doctrine. ‘Any aggression against Iran, including our infrastructure, will be met with a strong and decisive response,’ Araghchi said.