China backs diplomatic push to end US-Iran conflict after ceasefire extended

China on Wednesday voiced support for diplomatic efforts to end the US-Iran conflict after US President Donald Trump extended a ceasefire beyond its initial 14-day period.

“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 continuing political and diplomatic efforts to resolve the dispute, aiming to achieve a full and lasting ceasefire and maintain peace and stability in the Middle East.

Beijing’s remarks came after Trump said Tuesday that Washington would extend the ceasefire with Iran to give Tehran time to prepare a “unified proposal,” following a request from Pakistani officials.

In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, 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 on Wednesday.

US and Iranian officials are expected to meet for a second round of talks in Islamabad this week. However, Tehran has demanded that Washington lift its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as a condition for attending the negotiations.

The conflict began on Feb. 28 when the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, prompting retaliatory attacks by Tehran on US assets and bases across the Middle East.

Islamabad 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 had 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.