Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke of Iranian "signals" favoring negotiations with the United States to end the war, describing them as a "glimmer of hope."
اضافة اعلان
In recent days, U.S. President Donald Trump has shifted from threatening to escalate the war against Iran to announcing talks with the Islamic Republic—claims that Tehran has officially denied.
During a phone call with his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, on Wednesday, Wang Yi stated: "Both the United States and Iran have provided signals favoring negotiations, which offers a glimmer of hope for peace."
According to a statement issued by his office overnight, Wang added: "The international community should encourage the parties to the conflict to engage in dialogue. Once talks begin, peace becomes possible." Wang did not specify the nature of the Iranian "signals" he was referring to.
Conversely, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated on Wednesday that Iran has "no intention" of negotiating with the United States.
A state of uncertainty surrounds the potential for talks between Tehran and Washington. President Trump insisted on Wednesday that Iran is participating in peace talks, suggesting that Tehran’s denials stem from negotiators' fears of being "killed by their own people."
Speaking at a dinner for Republican members of Congress, Trump said: "They are negotiating, by the way, and they want to make a deal so badly. But they are afraid to say it because they think if they do, they’ll be killed by their own."
In a separate call with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Wednesday, Wang Yi emphasized that the "top priority" remains encouraging "peace talks." He praised Ankara's "constructive" role in "facilitating the resumption of negotiations," according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
China, a key economic and political partner of Iran, has condemned U.S. and Israeli strikes on the Islamic Republic. However, it has also implicitly criticized Iranian strikes on regional countries and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Source: AFP
