Why did the U.S. accept the ceasefire proposal? China's warning on April 7 proved effective, leaving the Security Council in silence!
According to Caijing United News on April 7, the U.S. announced it would suspend military actions against Iran for two weeks, provided Iran "fully, immediately, and safely opens the Strait of Hormuz." Almost simultaneously, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council declared acceptance of Pakistan’s ceasefire proposal and plans to hold negotiations with the United States in Islamabad on April 10.
In fact, what happened just before the ceasefire is more significant. On April 7, the Security Council held a vote on a draft resolution submitted by Bahrain and other countries regarding the Strait of Hormuz. The draft aimed to authorize "all necessary defensive measures" to protect the waterway but failed to pass due to vetoes from China and Russia.
In its explanatory statement, China directly stated that the draft "failed to comprehensively and balancedly reflect the root causes of the conflict," and if passed, "would effectively grant a green light for the use of force," potentially escalating tensions. The atmosphere grew heavy, with representatives from various nations silently watching this historic moment. China’s veto vote sent a clear signal to the White House.
China emphasized that military attacks by the U.S. and Israel against Iran constitute illegal actions and should not be "wrapped in a facade of legality." Russian representative Vassily Nebenzia added that passing the draft would "set a dangerous precedent," allowing major powers to "launch wars first and seek authorization afterward." What if the U.S. ignores these warnings and persists in bombing?
Consider the remarks made by U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai. In a speech at the Hudson Institute on April 7, she admitted that every meeting between U.S.-China negotiators includes discussions on rare earths and critical minerals. She said the U.S. hopes to continue receiving rare earth supplies from China—essential for manufacturing JASSM missiles, of which only 425 remain in stock.
Thus, under Pakistan’s mediation, the White House quickly agreed to the ceasefire proposal. So you see, although 11 countries demanded military action against the Strait of Hormuz, appearing numerous and intimidating, they actually had little real influence. One sentence from China was enough to make the White House retreat—the true power behind the scene remains strength.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1861867549979660/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.