China backs diplomacy as Trump extends Iran ceasefire for unified proposal

China on Wednesday endorsed continued diplomatic efforts to resolve the US-Iran conflict, following President Donald Trump’s decision to extend a fragile ceasefire beyond its original two-week window. “The current situation in the region is at a critical stage. The pressing priority is to prevent, by all means, a relapse into fighting,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said in Beijing. He added that China supports all parties in pursuing political and diplomatic solutions to achieve a full and lasting ceasefire and maintain stability in the Middle East.

Extension at Pakistan’s request

Trump announced Tuesday that Washington would extend the ceasefire to give Iran time to prepare a “unified proposal,” acting on a request from Pakistani officials. In a Truth Social post, Trump said Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had asked the US to delay renewed military action until a joint proposal could be formulated. The ceasefire, which halted the US-Israeli war with Iran on April 8, had been due to expire Wednesday. US and Iranian officials are expected to meet for a second round of talks in Islamabad this week, though Tehran has demanded that Washington lift its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as a condition for attending.

Conflict background

The war began on Feb. 28 when the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, prompting Iranian retaliation against US assets across the Middle East. Pakistan later hosted the highest-level talks between Washington and Tehran since the two countries severed diplomatic ties in 1979, held on April 11-12. Iran briefly lifted its control over the Strait of Hormuz last Friday but reinstated it a day later after Trump said the blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place.