Beijing: China on Tuesday urged the US and Iran to avoid returning to war after Washington announced that it would reimpose a blockade on Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz. 'China is deeply concerned over resumed military conflict in the Gulf region,' Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters in Beijing.

According to Anadolu Agency, Lin urged the relevant parties to 'heed strong call for peace and stability in the region, remain calm, exercise restraint, safeguard hard-won ceasefire, avoid return of war.' Lin emphasized that the US and Iran should 'prevent fighting from spreading and hurting more innocent people.'

Lin further stressed the importance of respecting the lawful rights and interests of the coastal nations in the Strait of Hormuz. He noted that the international community desires an early resumption of normal and safe passage in the strait. 'The relevant parties need to work in same direction and see proper settlement,' he stated.

China's call for restraint comes amid ongoing military strikes between the US and Iran, with the conflict escalating due to attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. These incidents followed tensions that arose after the US and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28.

Last month, Washington and Tehran signed the Islamabad memorandum of understanding, including a ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Pakistan as a preliminary step toward ending the war. However, US President Donald Trump declared the ceasefire over on July 8, citing renewed hostilities.