China urges Iran, U.S. to compromise as ceasefire holds

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday urged all parties in the Iran conflict to honor a ceasefire and find common ground, even as Iran accused the United States of conducting strikes that violated the truce.

The remarks, delivered at the United Nations in New York, reflect mounting international pressure to end a conflict that has inflicted civilian casualties and stoked fears of wider regional instability in the Middle East.

Wang made the remarks to reporters after chairing a meeting of the 15-member UN Security Council, according to The Korea Times. China, a permanent council member, has positioned itself as a key diplomatic voice urging de-escalation in the Iran conflict.

"We hope that the parties concerned can stay committed to pursuing a ceasefire and continue to meet each other halfway, so that peace can return to the Middle East as early as possible," Wang said.

Iran accused the United States of violating the ceasefire by conducting defensive strikes in the country's southern region, an allegation that complicated international efforts to consolidate the fragile truce. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said reaching an agreement to end the fighting could take several days.

Wang cautioned against expecting a swift resolution, invoking a Chinese proverb: "As we have been saying, it takes more than one cold day to freeze three feet of ice, and long-standing issues cannot be resolved overnight."

Despite that caution, Wang pressed all sides to sustain the diplomatic momentum: "However, every step forward in the negotiation brings more hope to peace, and one day earlier the conflict is ended means less civilian casualties."

Wang's appearance before the Security Council underscored China's bid to expand its diplomatic influence in the Middle East at a pivotal moment, even as the durability of the ceasefire remained the central preoccupation for international mediators.