Asia Pacific
China has urged the United States and Iran to return to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and resume the negotiation process
China has urged the United States and Iran to return to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and resume the negotiation process based on the points agreed upon under the memorandum. According to British news agency Reuters, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remarks during a meeting with his Iranian counterpart, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, in Beijing. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Wang Yi said that the United States and Iran should adopt a rational approach, exercise restraint, and engage in meaningful negotiations on issues of mutual concern. Wang Yi said that prolonging the war between the United States and Iran was not in the common interest of the two sides or the international community. China urged both countries to return to the Islamabad Memorandum as soon as possible, reactivate the negotiation framework based on the consensus reached so far, and engage in meaningful consultations on their respective concerns.
Wang Yi also called on all relevant parties to take effective measures to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible. He said it was essential to maintain the safety and smooth flow of international maritime routes and ensure the stability of global energy transportation and supply chains. China also expressed concern that tensions in the Middle East could spread further to Yemen and the Red Sea. Beijing urged all parties to avoid further complicating the situation and called for disputes to be resolved through dialogue and negotiations.
Wang Yi said that, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, China was ready to play a constructive role in resolving international disputes. He said that China and Iran are comprehensive strategic partners and that Beijing is prepared to further strengthen dialogue and cooperation with Iran and help protect its legitimate rights and interests. The meeting took place as diplomatic activity surrounding the Iran issue intensified ahead of an expected meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington next week.
Meanwhile, U.S. broadcaster CBS News has released new images obtained from active-duty U.S. military personnel showing damage to American military facilities, buildings, vehicles and aircraft across the Middle East. According to CBS News, one image from Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia shows the rear section of a Boeing E-3 Sentry aircraft apparently destroyed. Other images from Camp Behring in Kuwait and other U.S. facilities also show damage to buildings and vehicles. According to a report by the U.S. Department of Defense Inspector General, the U.S. military suffered equipment losses of up to $3.7 billion during the war with Iran, including nearly 60 aircraft. The report said Iran targeted U.S. bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman and Jordan.
The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding emerged in June 2026 as a framework for a ceasefire and negotiation process between the United States and Iran, with Pakistan and Qatar playing the role of mediators. On June 18, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari welcomed the understanding, describing it as an important development for the region and the world. Later, according to a joint statement issued by Pakistan and Qatar on June 22, high-level talks were held in Lucerne, Switzerland, with representatives from the United States, Iran, Pakistan and Qatar in attendance. The participants agreed to establish procedures for technical negotiations and set up a high-level committee to provide political oversight of the mediation process.
China’s call for a return to this same framework comes at a time when the ongoing war between the United States and Iran has affected not only regional security but also global energy supplies and maritime trade. The situation in the Strait of Hormuz is particularly important for global oil and gas supplies. Against this backdrop, Beijing has placed special emphasis on reopening the strait and maintaining and restoring international maritime traffic.
