China urges immediate ceasefire, talks as Iran conflict escalates

China hopes all the parties will show sincerity and bring an early end to a war that should never have happened, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Tuesday.

She said the root cause of the tension lies in the unlawful use of force by the United States and Israel against Iran, actions that violate international law.

Force cannot bring peace, while a political settlement is the only way forward, Mao said at a regular news briefing, adding that the immediate priority is to secure a ceasefire, stop the fighting and return to the track of dialogue and negotiation in order to address the issue at its root and restore peace and stability in the Gulf.

She said the Middle East situation continues to deteriorate, with hostilities still escalating and weighing on the global economy and energy security, which have caused deep concern in the international community.

Since the outbreak of the conflict, China has maintained an objective, fair and balanced position and worked consistently to promote a ceasefire and an end to the fighting, Mao said.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi has held 26 phone calls with parties, including Iran, Israel, Russia and Gulf countries, while Chinese government's special envoy on the Middle East issue has engaged in shuttle diplomacy in the region, she said.

Mao added that China and Pakistan recently put forward a five-point initiative, reflecting the broad consensus of the international community in support of peace and an end to the war.