The foreign ministers of China and Pakistan issued a joint call on Friday for an immediate cessation of hostilities between the United States and Iran and a return to negotiations, according to a statement released by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The appeal, made after talks in Shanghai between Wang Yi and Ishaq Dar, comes as military exchanges between Washington and Tehran have escalated sharply since the collapse of a memorandum of understanding that had paused open conflict in June.

Beijing and Islamabad expressed concern over what they described as a deteriorating situation and urged all parties to overcome obstacles, resume contacts and strive for a comprehensive peace agreement through dialogue. Wang Yi noted that the initial memorandum, mediated by Pakistan, had been hard-won and that its core provisions aligned with the long-term interests of the parties and the expectations of the international community. Pakistani officials indicated Islamabad’s readiness to continue facilitating a ceasefire and renewed talks, while the Chinese side pledged ongoing support for Pakistan’s mediation efforts.

The diplomatic intervention follows a week of reciprocal strikes. US Central Command confirmed that American airstrikes targeted an airport, a railway station and five bridges near the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas, close to the Strait of Hormuz, with Iranian state media reporting seven fatalities. Washington stated the operations aimed to degrade military capabilities used to threaten maritime navigation. In response, Iranian armed forces launched what they termed Operation Nasr 2, firing missiles and drones at US bases and interests in the region. The US also reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports, a move that Tehran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, said had dismantled the Islamabad memorandum, leaving Iran with no obligations under it.

The Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of global seaborne oil passes, has become a focal point of the confrontation. Viewed from regional capitals, the breakdown of the truce has revived fears of a prolonged disruption to commercial shipping and wider instability. Pakistan, which mediated the original understanding, remains the primary channel between the two adversaries, while China, as a major power with ties to both Iran and Gulf states, has sought to position itself as a constructive force for de-escalation. Despite the joint appeal, there is no indication that either Washington or Tehran is prepared to re-enter talks. President Donald Trump has publicly dismissed negotiations as a waste of time, and an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman said the country is focused exclusively on territorial defence with no plans to engage with the United States.