ISLAMABAD: China has thrown its full diplomatic weight behind Pakistan’s high-stakes mediation bid to end the month-long US-Iran war that threatens global energy security and risks wider regional catastrophe.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi explicitly commended Islamabad’s efforts during a telephone call with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar on March 27.
The Chinese side praised Pakistan’s “unremitting efforts” to de-escalate tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Wang stated China stands ready to enhance communication and coordination with Pakistan and other parties to jointly push for an immediate ceasefire and lasting peace.
This endorsement comes as Pakistan hosted urgent four-nation talks in Islamabad on March 29 involving top diplomats from Türkiye, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
The gathering aimed to open direct channels between the United States and Iran after weeks of indirect messaging.
Pakistan has already relayed a 15-point US ceasefire framework to Tehran, which Iran is actively deliberating.
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced Islamabad’s readiness to host formal US-Iran talks in the coming days, citing confidence expressed by both sides.
The conflict erupted on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes that killed over 1,300 Iranians, including former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iranian retaliation has since claimed 24 Israeli civilians and injured thousands more across the region.
United States forces have suffered 15 soldiers killed and 332 wounded, with damage to 17 military sites costing at least 800 million dollars.
The total US military expenditure has already reached 18 billion dollars in the first month alone.
Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered the biggest disruption to global energy supplies in history, according to the International Energy Agency.
Nearly 20 per cent of the world’s oil normally transits the strait, sending prices surging and threatening supply chains to East and South Asia.
Iran has attacked tankers, laid mines and imposed tolls in Chinese yuan, further escalating economic fallout.
Pakistan’s mediation role has gained momentum through back-channel diplomacy, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s hour-long call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Islamabad has coordinated closely with Gulf and Islamic nations to protect civilian infrastructure and maritime routes.
Chinese support adds significant heft, given Beijing’s longstanding ties with Tehran and its influence in global forums.
Wang Yi has held multiple calls with regional counterparts in recent weeks, consistently urging restraint and dialogue.
Analysts note that Pakistan’s unique position—maintaining working relations with both Washington and Tehran—makes it an ideal facilitator.
The four-nation mechanism in Islamabad marks the most coordinated regional push yet to avert a broader Middle East conflagration.
Both sides have agreed to prioritise protection of non-military targets and resumption of peace talks under United Nations auspices.
Dar briefed Wang on the latest Iranian position and thanked China for backing Pakistan’s constructive role.
The two countries reaffirmed shared goals of ending hostilities and restoring stability.
Sensational developments include Iran’s recent missile barrages towards Israeli targets and US Marine deployments heightening fears of ground escalation.
Yet diplomatic momentum in Islamabad offers a narrow but critical window for de-escalation.
China’s readiness to coordinate signals Beijing’s strategic interest in preventing oil shocks that could ripple through its own economy.
Regional observers highlight that successful mediation could prevent thousands more casualties and stabilise energy markets.
Pakistan has positioned itself as a bridge-builder, leveraging its credibility across Muslim nations and major powers alike.
The coming days will test whether indirect talks evolve into direct negotiations hosted on Pakistani soil.
As the war enters its second month, the joint China-Pakistan push underscores a growing preference for diplomacy over continued military confrontation.
This development carries profound implications for global peace, energy security and the future of Middle East stability.