Beijing Calls for De-escalation Amid Fears of Israel-Iran War Spiral
Beijing, June 18 – China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has warned that escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran risk plunging the Middle East into chaos, urging all parties to urgently agree to a ceasefire before the situation spirals out of control.
Speaking during separate phone calls with his counterparts in Egypt and Oman, Wang said the conflict — now in its sixth day — is dangerously close to pushing the region into what he called an “abyss.” He criticized Israel for “disregarding international law,” citing its recent large-scale strikes on Iranian territory as a turning point in the crisis.
“China is deeply concerned that the situation may get out of control,” Wang told Egypt’s foreign minister, according to a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry.
“We cannot sit idly by and let the region slide into an unknown abyss,” he said in his conversation with Oman’s foreign minister. “Reaching a ceasefire agreement is the top priority.”
The diplomatic intervention from Beijing comes as Israel and Iran continued to exchange missile and drone fire for a sixth consecutive day, raising fears of a wider regional war. Israel confirmed on Wednesday it had destroyed the Iranian internal security headquarters in Tehran, while Iran vowed retaliation.
The conflict began last Friday after Israel launched a series of coordinated strikes against Iranian military and nuclear sites, including Natanz. The move drew condemnation from Arab states and concern from world powers seeking to de-escalate tensions.
The United States has taken a more aggressive tone, with President Donald Trump stating on Wednesday that Iran must agree to an “unconditional surrender”, and leaving open the possibility of U.S. military involvement. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected the U.S. demand and issued a warning:
“The Islamic Republic will never surrender. Any U.S. intervention will bring irreparable damage.”
As international calls for de-escalation grow louder, the prospect of a ceasefire remains uncertain — and the risks of a broader war loom large.
