Trump threatens to intensify attacks on Iran, China calls for end to war
Beijing (ANTARA) - The Chinese government has once again called for an end to military operations between the United States, Israel, and Iran, despite US President Donald Trump threatening to intensify attacks.
“Military means do not resolve fundamental problems. Escalating conflict benefits no one; we once again urge the conflicting parties to immediately halt military operations,” said spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mao Ning, during a press conference in Beijing on Thursday.
US President Donald Trump stated that the United States is nearly achieving its military objectives in Iran and will press Iran even harder.
“We will strike them very hard in the next two to three weeks. We will take them back to the Stone Age, where they belong,” Trump said in a speech on Operation Epic Fury on Wednesday (1/4).
Mao Ning also called for peace talks to be held as soon as possible.
“The resolution of issues should be through dialogue and negotiation to prevent more serious blows to the global economy and energy security,” Mao Ning stated.
Mao Ning further identified the root cause of disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz as the illegal US-Israel military operations against Iran.
“Only by ending military actions and restoring peace and stability in the Gulf can international shipping lanes be opened and secured. The international community needs to cooperate on de-escalation to prevent further regional turmoil that could impact the global economy and energy security,” Mao Ning emphasised.
The Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters, Mao Ning said, are vital international trade routes for goods and energy.
“All eyes are on whether stability can return to the Strait of Hormuz and whether traffic can resume soon. The key lies in stopping military actions,” Mao Ning stressed.
Trump has repeatedly stated that talks with Iran are ongoing. He warned that if no agreement is reached, the US will attack all of Iran’s power plants.
“We haven’t struck their oil fields yet, though that’s the easiest target, because it wouldn’t give them a chance to survive. But we could strike them, and they would be gone,” he said.
Trump stated that the US is almost no longer importing oil through the Strait of Hormuz and will not do so in the future.
He also claimed that Iran has been “militarily and economically destroyed” and urged other countries to keep the shipping lanes open.
However, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei denied that Tehran has requested a ceasefire from the US. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had previously stated that the ongoing dialogue with the US is not negotiations but only limited message exchanges, either directly or through regional intermediaries.
Tensions have escalated since 28 February, when the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran that killed more than 1,340 people, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran retaliated with drone and missile strikes on Israel and Gulf countries hosting US military assets.
Thirteen US military personnel have been killed and around 303 others injured since the operation began.