China has asked Iran and Israel to stop fighting and return to peace talks as their war entered its 11th day.
A Chinese government spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, said both countries should avoid actions that could make the war worse or spread to other areas. He urged them to choose political solutions instead of violence.
The fighting increased on Monday as Iran and Israel continued to launch air attacks against each other. Iran also promised to respond after the United States bombed three of its nuclear sites over the weekend using bunker-buster bombs.
The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, had earlier asked China to help stop Iran from closing the Strait of Hormuz — a major route used to ship oil and other goods.
China responded by saying that the international community should do more to stop the conflict and protect the global economy. They stressed that the Persian Gulf and nearby waters are very important for world trade.
“Keeping this region safe is in everyone’s interest,” Guo said. “We call on all nations to work harder to reduce the fighting and prevent more harm to the world’s economy.”
