China’s top diplomat told his Pakistani counterpart on Tuesday that the next phase of negotiations between the United States and Iran – which Pakistan has helped broker – will be “more difficult”.
In a telephone conversation ahead of Friday’s scheduled signing of a US-Iran memorandum of understanding to end their war, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Pakistan’s Ishaq Dar that “it is foreseeable that, compared to the first phase, the second phase of negotiations will be more difficult.”
Wang added that the United Nations Security Council “should also play a greater role” in supporting these talks, according to a statement from Beijing’s foreign ministry.
“The current consensus is far from the final destination, rather it is a new starting point,” Wang said.
“Achieving lasting peace in the Middle East and the Gulf region still requires unremitting efforts from all sides,” Wang said, adding that China was willing to work with Pakistan to promote peace.
Pakistani officials have previously said that China, Islamabad’s close ally and Iran’s top trading partner, played a key role in supporting its mediation efforts.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry said Wang and Dar agreed during their call to continue “commitment to the peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues,” including the Strait of Hormuz oil sea route that is subject to competing blockades that have rattled energy markets.
“They noted the importance of opening the Strait of Hormuz to the global economy, energy security and international trade,” the ministry said in a statement.
