United Nations: China on Tuesday voiced support for Pakistan’s “active mediation” between the United States and Iran in the ongoing West Asia conflict, while urging direct negotiations between the two principal parties, PTI reported.
Wang Yi, China’s foreign minister, told reporters that “regarding the current situation, the key is the negotiation between the United States and Iran because they are the major parties concerned.”
He said Beijing welcomed third‑party efforts to facilitate dialogue. “We support the active mediation by Pakistan and other countries. Before we came here, I met with (Field) Marshal (Asim) Munir of Pakistan. We also support efforts made by the United States and Iran, respectively,” Wang said.
China, which holds the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council for May, hosted a Council debate on “Upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and strengthening the UN‑centred international system.” Wang presided over the opening session of the debate and met UN Secretary‑General António Guterres during his visit to UN headquarters.
Patience Urged
Commenting on prospects for a diplomatic settlement, Wang used a Chinese proverb to stress the need for patience. “As we have been saying, it takes more than one cold day to freeze three feet of ice, and long‑standing issues cannot be resolved overnight,” he said, adding that “every step forward in the negotiation brings more hope for peace.”
Wang urged the parties to pursue a ceasefire and to compromise. “We hope that the parties concerned can stay committed to pursuing a ceasefire and continue to meet each other halfway, so that peace can return to the Middle East as early as possible. And we believe that once an agreement is reached, it will be submitted to the UN Security Council for endorsement, for it to have legitimacy and authority,” he said.
Wang’s comments followed talks in Beijing on Monday with Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, who had just completed a short visit to Iran and briefed the Chinese minister on his meetings there. Munir travelled from Iran to China to join Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Sharif is on a four‑day visit to China that began on Saturday.
‘Problematic’ Mediator
The Chinese remarks come amid criticism from some US officials of Pakistan’s mediation role. US Senator Lindsey Graham said in a post on X that Pakistan, as a “mediator” between the US and Iran, is more than “problematic.”
He criticised Islamabad’s stance on Israel and alleged ties with Iran. “It has been apparent to me for quite a while that Pakistan as a mediator is more than problematic. Their animosity towards Israel is long‑standing,” Graham said.
“It is undeniable that Iranian military aircraft are being housed on Pakistani air bases, and past rhetoric from the highest Pakistani officials against Israel is disturbing. As to the defence minister’s comments about the Abraham Accords, saying that Pakistan would never join because they don’t trust Israel: The clip may be a year old, but I fear the sentiment is fresh. In that regard, it is imperative that Pakistan give an answer now to President Trump’s call to join the Abraham Accords,” Graham wrote.
The senator’s remarks referred to a US media report alleging Pakistan allowed Iranian military aircraft to park on its airfield to protect them from American strikes. Islamabad rejected that report as “misleading.”
