China’s top envoy tells his Iranian counterpart a 鈥榗omprehensive ceasefire鈥� is needed

BEIJING (AP) 鈥� China’s foreign minister called for a comprehensive ceasefire in the and said his country was 鈥渄eeply distressed鈥� by the conflict that has lasted two months.

Wang Yi made the comments Wednesday after meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who was visiting Beijing for the first time since the war with the U.S. and Israel started Feb. 28.

The Chinese comments could inject new energy into stalled efforts to push for an agreement between the United States and Iran that would end the war. They followed an earlier statement by U.S. President Donald Trump that he was pausing his short-lived to guide commercial ships out of the Strait of Hormuz in hopes that a deal could be finalized.

Iran鈥檚 effective closure of the strait, a vital waterway through which major oil and gas supplies, fertilizer and passed before the war, has sent fuel prices skyrocketing, and put enormous economic pressure on countries including major powers like China.

鈥淲e believe that a comprehensive ceasefire is urgently needed, that a resumption of hostilities is not acceptable, and that it is particularly important to remain committed to dialogue and negotiations,鈥� Wang said, according to a video of the meeting.

The Chinese foreign minister said the conflict 鈥渉as already lasted for more than two months. It has not only caused serious losses to the Iranian people, but also had a severe impact on regional and global peace. China is deeply distressed by this.鈥�

China’s close economic and political ties to Tehran give it a . The Trump administration is to use that relationship to urge the Islamic Republic to open the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed a hope that Beijing would reiterate the need for Iran to release its chokehold on the strait, which would deny its main source of leverage as Trump demands a major rollback of Tehran鈥檚 disputed nuclear program.

China鈥檚 Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Beijing has made clear that the relevant sides must act 鈥渨ith prudence鈥� and resolve the conflict through dialogue in order to restore peace. He added that China has been actively promoting peace talks and will continue to do so.

Araghchi鈥檚 visit comes a week before Trump is expected to arrive in Beijing for . The May 14-15 trip with Chinese President Xi Jinping would be Trump鈥檚 first visit to China during his second term and the first by a U.S. president since .

鈥淚 hope the Chinese tell him what he needs to be told,鈥� Rubio said during a White House briefing Tuesday. 鈥淎nd that is that what you are doing in the strait is causing you to be globally isolated. You鈥檙e the bad guy in this.鈥�