China sees ‘glimmer of hope’ in Iran war diplomacy despite continued fighting
Beijing — China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said a “glimmer of hope” has emerged for ending the Middle East conflict, citing signals from both the United States and Iran indicating a possible return to negotiations, even as hostilities continue and public positions remain sharply divided.
Speaking in separate calls with regional counterparts, Wang urged renewed dialogue, saying indications from Washington and Tehran suggested a willingness to re-engage diplomatically. His remarks came amid conflicting claims from the two sides over whether any talks are underway.
Iran has denied entering negotiations, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stating that no talks had taken place and that discussing negotiations under current conditions would amount to conceding defeat. His comments underscored Tehran’s public resistance to engaging while the conflict persists.
U.S. President Donald Trump, however, maintained that Iran was already participating in talks and eager to reach an agreement, suggesting Iranian officials were reluctant to acknowledge this publicly.The White House has also warned of severe consequences if Iran does not accept a proposed peace framework, while reiterating readiness to escalate pressure.
Wang conveyed China’s position in discussions with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, emphasizing the need to resume negotiations and avoid further escalation. He said prolonging the conflict would lead to additional casualties and broader regional spillover.
China also expressed support for diplomatic initiatives led by regional actors, including Türkiye’s ongoing engagement with both Washington and Tehran aimed at facilitating dialogue.
Despite the diplomatic activity, violence on the ground has shown little sign of easing after nearly four weeks of conflict. Intensified rhetoric from all sides has further complicated prospects for immediate de-escalation.
Wang reiterated that dialogue remains the only viable path forward, warning that continued fighting risks deepening humanitarian and geopolitical consequences across the region.
