Middle East conflict requires talks rather than arms, China tells Iran

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has urged all sides involved in Middle East hostilities to abandon military action and seek political settlements through negotiation, Chinese state media reported on Monday.

Wang made the remarks during talks in Beijing with Ali Bagheri Kani, who serves as deputy secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council. According to the state-run Xinhua news agency, Wang emphasized that dialogue remains the only viable path to settling disputes in the region. During the discussions, Wang also affirmed Beijing's backing for Iran in defending its territorial integrity, national sovereignty, and security.

The meeting formed part of a broader flurry of Middle Eastern diplomacy conducted by Beijing on Monday. Earlier in the day, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said of Oman. During their discussions, Xi warned that the Gulf and the wider Middle East should be protected from turning into an arena for major geopolitical confrontations among global powers.

Following the talks between Xi and Sultan Haitham, China and Oman issued a joint communique. In the statement, Oman expressed formal support for peace initiatives presented by Beijing and indicated that Muscat welcomes an expanded role for China in fostering long-term regional stability.

China has increasingly sought to position itself as an active diplomatic mediator across the Middle East. As part of that effort, Chinese officials announced that Beijing's special envoy for Middle East affairs will travel to Iran, Oman, and Saudi Arabia later this month for further consultations.