China on Monday expressed support for the understanding reached between the United States and Iran to end months of conflict in the Middle East.
China's Stance on US-Iran Agreement
Speaking at a regular media briefing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Beijing is hoping that all parties would sign the first phase of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as planned. "China hopes that the US and Iran will sign the first phase of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as scheduled," he said, as reported by PTI.
The US and Iran have finalised a deal to end their 107-day war and open the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway which is vital for global trade and energy supplies.
Strait of Hormuz Reopening a Priority
Referring to the Strait of Hormuz, Lin said its stability served the interests of both regional countries and the wider international community. Noting that the reopening of the Strait forms part of the US-Iran MoU, he expressed hope that shipping through the route would resume as soon as possible.
Lebanon Remains Under Attack
A fresh wave of Israeli attacks across southern Lebanon over the past hour has been reported by Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA), according to Al Jazeera, even as the US-Iran agreement is said to include provisions calling for an end to strikes on Lebanese territory. According to the report, the Israeli military carried out two strikes on Khiam and also targeted a car in Kfar Tebnit with a drone attack, leaving several people injured.
Israel's defence minister also said the country will not withdraw its forces from security zones in southern Lebanon despite "existing and future pressures", insisting that maintaining control of the areas remains a key objective of the war. "If Iran attacks Israel due to the events in Lebanon, we will attack it," he said.
US-Iran Deal to Be Signed in Switzerland
The remarks came after US President Donald Trump announced that Washington and Tehran had finalised an agreement to end their 107-day conflict, which had triggered concerns over global energy supplies. The peace agreement is scheduled to be signed in Switzerland on June 19, as per PTI.
The conflict began after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, resulting in the deaths of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior military commanders. The subsequent escalation raised fears of wider regional instability and disruptions to global oil supplies before the latest breakthrough in negotiations.
