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China’s top diplomat has said a “glimmer of hope” for peace has emerged amid efforts to end the war in the Middle East, despite Tehran’s vow to continue fighting.
The White House warned that US President Donald Trump is prepared to “unleash hell” if Iran refuses a proposed peace plan, but Tehran insisted it will not negotiate.
The intensified rhetoric has dampened hopes of any immediate de-escalation, with violence on the ground showing no sign of easing after nearly four weeks. China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged dialogue in separate calls with his Turkish and Egyptian counterparts, suggesting both Tehran and Washington had signalled a willingness to return to the negotiating table.
“With both the United States and Iran signalling a willingness to negotiate, a glimmer of hope for peace has emerged,” Wang told Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, according to a Beijing readout released late Wednesday.
The remarks came hours before Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said, “So far, no negotiations have taken place, and I believe our position is completely principled.”
“Speaking of negotiations now is an admission of defeat,” he added.
Trump, however, maintained on Wednesday that Iran was engaged in peace talks, suggesting Tehran’s denials stem from fears among its negotiators.
“They are negotiating, by the way, and they want to make a deal so badly. But they’re afraid to say it, because they figure they’ll be killed by their own people,” he told a dinner for Republican members of Congress.
Wang also told Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan that the rights and wrongs of the Middle East conflict are “crystal clear,” expressing support for Turkey’s role in helping to facilitate a return to negotiations.
