Key facts
- China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned that future Iran-US negotiations will be more difficult.
- Wang Yi described the recent interim deal as a new starting point, not a final destination.
- China called for increased international support for the peace talks.
- Wang Yi urged a greater role for the UN Security Council in supporting negotiations.
- China believes sustained efforts are necessary for lasting peace in the Middle East.
- Even a peace deal between the US and Iran would leave the Middle East more fractured than before the war.
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi has cautioned that upcoming negotiations between Iran and the United States are expected to encounter greater difficulties, characterizing the next phase as "more difficult" than the initial stages. Speaking with Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Wang acknowledged the recent diplomatic progress but stressed that significant obstacles remain. "The current consensus is far from the final destination, rather it is a new starting point," Wang stated, according to a release from China's Foreign Ministry. Wang also advocated for enhanced involvement from the UN Security Council in backing the negotiations. He further commented that achieving enduring peace in the Middle East and the Gulf region necessitates continuous commitment from all parties involved, particularly as the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran continues to alter regional dynamics. Opinion writer Hal Brands noted that even if a peace deal is reached, the Middle East will remain more fractured than before the war.