China urges US, Iran to halt fighting, resume dialogue

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian on Thursday renewed Beijing's call for Washington and Tehran to immediately halt hostilities and resume diplomatic negotiations, expressing grave concern over the two-week-old conflict that has seen missiles exchanged across the Gulf. Lin told reporters that Beijing is "gravely" concerned about the situation, warning that military conflict will only "escalate the situation" and will not resolve any fundamental issues.

"The sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of regional countries should be respected and safeguarded," Lin said, urging relevant parties to stop military actions and resume dialogue and negotiations. He added that China has maintained contacts with relevant parties, including Iran, since the outbreak of the conflict and "has made efforts for promoting peace talks," according to Anadolu Agency.

Military exchanges escalate

Earlier on Thursday, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said that it struck 18 major US military targets in the Gulf. The strikes came in response to US missile attacks on a recreational site, an industrial complex and areas near Karaj and Nazarabad west of Tehran, along with a local Revolutionary Guard base in Pishva County, the IRGC stated.

Over the past two weeks, Washington and Tehran have exchanged attacks intermittently as tensions escalated across the region. Thursday's strikes targeted positions in the Gulf, marking the latest escalation in the two-week conflict.