China Offers to Mediate Between Pakistan and Iran

On Thursday, China expressed its willingness to mediate between Pakistan and Iran following cross-border shelling between the two countries, including a strike that Tehran reported had killed 7 people. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated at a regular press conference: "The Chinese side sincerely hopes that both parties can calm down, exercise restraint, and avoid escalating tensions." She added, "We are prepared to play a constructive role in de-escalation if both parties wish for that." Iran summoned the Pakistani chargé d'affaires after a missile strike targeted a border area, resulting in at least 7 fatalities, according to local media reports. The Tasnim news agency reported, "Following the Pakistani attack early in the morning on a border village in Sistan and Baluchestan province, the Pakistani chargé d'affaires in Tehran was summoned to the Foreign Ministry for an explanation."