China presses for Middle East peace talks in meetings with Iranian, Omani and Saudi officials

China urged all sides in the Middle East conflict to return to negotiations during meetings in Beijing on Monday with Iranian, Omani and Saudi officials, Gulf News reported.

The talks came after US President Donald Trump renewed his threat of military action on Saturday, more than eight months into the conflict.

What did China say in its Middle East talks with Iran, Oman and Saudi Arabia?

According to Chinese statements, officials called for dialogue and a political solution.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi backed Iran’s sovereignty and security and urged all parties to avoid armed conflict, while President Xi Jinping said China was ready to contribute to regional peace. Beijing also said it will send its Middle East envoy to the three countries later this month.

What is China’s shuttle diplomacy plan for the Middle East?

A foreign ministry spokesperson said the envoy’s trip is part of what the spokesperson described at a news briefing as “shuttle diplomacy visits… aimed at promoting peace talks (and) easing tensions”.

The meetings came after Trump said the United States had knocked out much of Iran’s military but still had to “take care of” one or two targets. Tehran has warned of reprisals if it is attacked. The conflict began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran and has at times spread into neighboring countries.

Who did Xi Jinping meet in Beijing on Monday?

Xi held talks with Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq. It was the first visit to China by the Gulf state’s head of state since the two countries established diplomatic relations.

Xi told the sultan that China was ready to “contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in the region”, Xinhua reported. He said the Middle East should not become a “wrestling ground for major-country rivalry and geopolitical conflicts”, according to the state news agency.

What did Wang Yi tell Iranian and Saudi officials?

Wang met Ali Bagheri Kani, deputy secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. China supports Tehran in “safeguarding its own sovereignty and security”, Wang said, according to a Chinese statement. China’s foreign ministry had not announced Bagheri Kani’s visit beforehand.

Wang also urged all parties, “in a spirit of reason and pragmatism”, to focus on a political solution rather than “once again resorting to armed conflict”, the statement said.

He later met Saudi National Security Adviser Musaad bin Mohammad al-Aiban and called for dialogue to end the conflict “while safeguarding regional energy security and the safety of shipping lanes”.

China is one of Iran’s top economic partners and has long pushed for a detente. The conflict has disrupted global shipping.