China says 'no point in continuing' Iran war

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Friday that China's position on the Iran situation is very clear, adding that there is no point in continuing a conflict which should not have happened in the first place.

The spokesperson made the remarks in response to a media inquiry about whether Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump discussed Iran during their talks on Thursday and what China's view on the current situation in the Middle East is.

"To find an early way to resolve the situation is in the interest of not only the US and Iran, but also regional countries and the rest of the world," the spokesperson said.

As the door to dialogue has now been opened, "it should not be shut again," the spokesperson said, urging efforts to maintain momentum toward de-escalation and pursue a political settlement, as well as dialogue and consultation to reach an agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue and other concerns.

The spokesperson also stressed the importance of reopening shipping lanes "as soon as possible to respond to the call of the international community and jointly keep the global supply chains stable and unimpeded."

"It is important to reach a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire as soon as possible, enable peace and stability to return to the Middle East and Gulf region at an early date, and lay the foundation for building a sustainable security architecture for the region," the spokesperson added.