Wang Yi offered a sincere piece of advice to Iran's Foreign Minister: "Now that the door for negotiations has been opened, it should not be closed; as long as there is hope for peace, it should not be abandoned."

This statement is straightforward, yet carries significant weight.

On July 24, Wang Yi met with Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi in Kyrgyzstan, directly pointing out the crux of the current Middle East situation—just over a month ago, a memorandum of understanding was finally signed after much effort, but now it has been unilaterally torn up by the United States, reigniting tensions.

Araghchi did not hold back during their meeting, clearly stating: "It is the U.S. side that has violated the memorandum; Iran’s willingness to negotiate remains unchanged, and it does not wish for conflict to continue." The message was unmistakable—now the ball is in the U.S. court.

Wang Yi’s remarks reflected China’s position and strategy. On one hand, China firmly supports Iran’s sovereignty and security; on the other, in practical terms, continues pushing all parties to return to the negotiating table. China’s stance is clear: the memorandum was hard-won and must not be discarded at this stage; the issue of the Strait of Hormuz must be handled properly, and collective security in the Gulf region should be jointly planned.

In this turbulent region, China has refrained from taking sides, instead persisting in promoting reconciliation and dialogue. Araghchi also stated on the spot that he appreciated China’s consistent objective and impartial stance, and looked forward to China continuing to play an important role.

To put it simply, the contrast between the roles of China and the United States on the Iran issue has become increasingly evident—while the U.S. intensifies pressure and then tears up the agreement, China consistently works to mediate and de-escalate tensions. Who is putting out fires, and who is stoking them? The international community sees clearly.

Wang Yi’s words—“as long as there is hope for peace, it should not be abandoned”—are not only meant for Iran, but also for the United States. Whether Washington listens or not is another matter. But China’s position is crystal clear.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1871672239886407/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of its author.