RismadarVoice Reporters, May 6, 2026
China has called for an immediate end to escalating tensions in the Middle East and urged the rapid reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route, as diplomatic efforts intensify between Tehran and Washington.
Speaking after high-level talks in Beijing with Iran’s foreign minister, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said a “complete cessation of fighting must be achieved without delay,” warning that renewed hostilities would be “even more unacceptable” as fragile diplomatic efforts continue.
Wang made the remarks during discussions with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, emphasising the need for sustained negotiations and de-escalation across the region.
Central to Beijing’s appeal was the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important maritime chokepoints, through which a significant share of global oil shipments pass.
Wang urged relevant parties to respond “as quickly as possible” to international calls for the “normal and safe resumption of maritime traffic” through the strait. The waterway links the Persian Gulf to global markets and remains a key pressure point in regional security dynamics.
The Strait of Hormuz has been a focal point of geopolitical tension, particularly amid broader instability in the Middle East.
On Iran’s nuclear programme, Wang reiterated China’s position balancing non-proliferation concerns with what he described as Iran’s “legitimate right” to peaceful nuclear energy. He also welcomed Tehran’s stated commitment not to pursue nuclear weapons.
The comments come as diplomatic engagement continues between Iran and the United States, following fragile ceasefire arrangements that Beijing has reportedly supported through behind-the-scenes mediation efforts.
China has a direct economic interest in stability around the Strait of Hormuz. According to maritime analytics firm Kpler, more than half of China’s seaborne crude oil imports from China pass through the waterway, much of it originating in the Middle East.
Analysts say Beijing’s growing diplomatic involvement reflects both its dependence on Gulf energy supplies and its broader ambition to position itself as a stabilising global actor.
Wang said China “will work harder to ease tensions and end the fighting, continue to support the launch of peace talks, and play a greater role in restoring peace and tranquillity to the Middle East.”
