Beijing has been mediating with officials in Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt to leverage its influence, the AP reported, citing an official. The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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US President Donald Trump has announced a two-week ceasefire at the request of Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir. Pakistan had been trying to hold talks for the past two days. Islamabad had sent a 15-point plan to Tehran on behalf of the US.
But Tehran did not accept it. Instead, it sent a different 10-point plan. President Trump said that the ceasefire was now based on this plan in coordination with Sharif and Munir. However, he has also warned that it will be changed and that Iran will launch a major airstrike if it does not conclude the talks this time.
Munir has been talking to US Vice President JD Vance, US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi for the last two days.
Pakistan had earlier held talks with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey in Islamabad in late March to initiate talks.
China has been working to persuade Tehran to agree to the talks, the AP reported, citing sources. Tehran is China's largest trading partner. China advised the Iranians to sit in on the talks, two officials told the AP on condition of anonymity.
Beijing has been using its influence to mediate with officials in Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt, one of the officials said. The AP did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Chinese Foreign Ministry. Earlier on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the impact of the war on the global economy and energy security was worrying. "All parties must be serious about preventing this inevitable war," she said.
The war, which began on February 28, has been suspended for two weeks starting Wednesday. A large number of officials, including Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, were killed during the war. Iranian officials have said the death toll in Iran has exceeded 1,900.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has invited the United States and Iran to Islamabad for talks on Friday.
