New Delhi: China has blamed the conflict in West Asia as the “root cause” behind the disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, while calling on the US, Israel and Iran to maintain the ongoing ceasefire.
“The US-Iran negotiation in Islamabad was a step towards de-escalation. China hopes the ceasefire will be kept, disputes will be resolved through political and diplomatic means rather than reigniting the flames of war, and conditions will be created for an early return of peace to the Gulf,” Lin Jian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said at a press briefing Monday.
“The root cause of disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz is the military conflict. To solve the issue, the conflict must stop as soon as possible. All parties need to remain calm and exercise restraint.”
Beijing is reported to have played a role in pushing Iran to accept the two-week ceasefire, as the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has had a huge impact on the global economy. China, along with Pakistan, had jointly issued a “five-point” peace proposal, when the Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had made a quick visit to Beijing earlier last month.
China has been one of the largest backers of the Iranian government, purchasing its oil despite global sanctions. China is reported to have also aided the Iranian military in equipping itself during the 40-day war.
Iran and the US held direct talks to find a solution to end the war over the weekend in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad but the effort failed to yield a breakthrough. The US blamed Iran for the failure of the talks, saying that Tehran was unwilling to accept its offer while President Donald J. Trump announced a naval blockade against Iranian ports starting on Monday.
Tehran blamed the US for the failure of the talks, due to Washington making “unlawful” demands, Mohammad Fathali, the Iranian ambassador to India said on Monday at a press briefing.
The fragile ceasefire remains in effect, however. Pakistan, which brokered the original ceasefire, called on all sides to continue the pause in conflict.
The Strait of Hormuz continues to remain effectively closed, with Tehran promising a new “mechanism” to allow the passage of ships soon. Tehran has laid claim to the Strait of Hormuz as a territorial waterway. The global waterway accounts for a fifth of the world’s energy supply.
The effective closure has led to spiking energy prices, while fears of shortages, especially of liquefied natural gas, remain.
(Edited by Nardeep Singh Dahiya)
Also Read: India, Iran share ‘common fate’ in West Asia region, says Iranian envoy Mohammad Fathali