China’s top diplomat Wang Yi has said that a “glimmer of hope” for peace has emerged in the Middle East amid ongoing efforts to end the conflict, even as Iran vowed to continue fighting.
The White House has warned that US President Donald Trump is prepared to take strong action if Iran does not accept a proposed peace plan. Tehran, however, stated it will not enter negotiations. The exchange of statements has reduced expectations of immediate de-escalation, with violence continuing on the ground after nearly four weeks.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi held separate calls with his Turkish and Egyptian counterparts, suggesting that both Washington DC and Tehran had indicated willingness to return to talks. “With both the United States and Iran signalling a willingness to negotiate, a glimmer of hope for peace has emerged,” Wang said in a conversation with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, according to a Beijing readout published Wednesday.
Hours later, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated, “So far, no negotiations have taken place, and I believe our position is completely principled.Speaking of negotiations, now is an admission of defeat.”
Trump said on Wednesday that Iran was participating in peace talks, suggesting Tehran’s denials reflected fears among Iranian negotiators of reprisals from their own government.
“They are negotiating, by the way, and they want to make a deal so badly. But they’re afraid to say it, because they figure they’ll be killed by their own people,” he said at a dinner for Republican members of Congress.
Wang told Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan that the responsibilities and actions in the Middle East conflict were clear and offered support for facilitating the resumption of negotiations. Turkey has carried out diplomatic efforts to end the conflict by engaging both Washington DC and Tehran, Fidan said in March.
“Prolonging this war would only result in further casualties and needless losses, leading to a further spillover of the conflict,” Wang said.
‘Glimmer of Hope’: China on possible US-Iran negotiations
