China and Pakistan on Tuesday called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gulf and the wider Middle East, urging the swift launch of peace talks and the restoration of normal navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, as their foreign ministers met in Beijing. Both countries have called for talks to end the US-Israeli war on Iran, now in the fifth week. Pakistan has previously said it is ready to facilitate peace talks between Washington and Tehran. Pakistan, which shares a more than 900‑km border with Iran, has emerged as a key mediator, building on its courtship of US President Donald Trump and its reputation as a relatively neutral player with long-standing ties to Iran. "Dialog and diplomacy are the only feasible ways to resolve conflicts," China and Pakistan said in a five-point initiative put forward during the meeting. "China and Pakistan support the parties concerned in initiating negotiations, and all sides should commit to resolving disputes through peaceful means." The initiative said the sovereignty, territorial integrity, national independence and security of Iran and Gulf countries should be safeguarded, and called for the protection of civilians, civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities. Foreign ministers Wang Yi and Mohammad Ishaq Dar also said the safety of waterways must be ensured, including that of ships and crews stranded in and around the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic chokepoint now at the center of global energy and shipping concerns. China and Pakistan called on all parties to "arrange for civil and commercial vessels to pass through safely as soon as possible and restore normal navigation in the strait at an early date," the initiative said. Pakistan mediates talks with Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia Dar's trip to Beijing comes after Pakistan hosted talks with Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia on Sunday and Trump's warning to "obliterate" Iran's oil wells and power plants if it does not open the Strait of Hormuz. Wang on Tuesday welcomed Pakistan's efforts in mediating, saying China supports and looks forward to Pakistan playing an important role in easing tensions and helping resume peace talks. "China is willing to work with Pakistan to overcome difficulties, remove obstacles, bring the fighting to an end as soon as possible, create opportunities for peace and open the window for peace talks," Wang told Dar, according to a statement from China's foreign ministry.
See this event through different lenses
Compare how Western, Iranian, Israeli, Global South, and Pro-Peace perspectives frame this event.
Compare PerspectivesLoading notes...
According to unverified accounts provided by a relative, Valivade served as a refuge for approximately 5,000 Polish refugees between 1942 and 1948, a period marked by the displacement of civilians following the 1939 invasion of Poland. The source claims that individual survivors, including a girl reportedly disguised to avoid danger, found temporary stability at the settlement, which is locally known as "Drugi Dom.
The United States and Israel have reportedly engaged in a regional conflict with Iran for nearly six months, during which Strait of Hormuz oil transit has remained significantly below prewar levels of 20 million barrels per day, despite U.S. officials claiming Navy escort operations.
Although the Strait typically facilitates over 20% of global energy trade, analysts suggest that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps may continue to restrict normal transit even if diplomatic agreements are reached. Current tensions have escalated following the expiration of a reported 60-day ceasefire, prompting the U.
S. to announce new economic isolation measures while hostilities appear to have resumed.
Sudan’s civil war, which has persisted for nearly four years, has reportedly displaced over 13 million people and caused significant famine, with casualty estimates suggesting approximately 59,000 deaths. Recent U.S. officials have highlighted the severity of the humanitarian crisis, noting that two-thirds of the population requires aid, while reports from the UN Security Council indicate that armed drones have been responsible for the majority of recorded civilian deaths in the first half of the year.
Mediator Oman reported that the United States and Iran made progress in their negotiations regarding Tehran's nuclear program on Thursday. However, the hours-long talks concluded without a clear indication of a final agreement.