China hopes that Iran and the United States will adhere to peaceful solutions and restart dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible, in order to put an end to the U.S.-Iran conflict at an early date, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Wednesday.
"China supports resolving disputes through political and diplomatic channels. We hope that Iran and the United States will adhere to peaceful solutions, return to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, and restart dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible," said Guo Jiakun, the spokesman, at a press conference in Beijing, in response to a media query about Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi's recent visit to China.
The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding is a 14-point framework peace agreement signed by the United States and Iran in June to end military hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
"Since the outbreak of the conflict [on February 28], China has been working actively to promote peace and end hostilities. We will uphold the series of initiatives and propositions proposed by President Xi Jinping for peace and stability in the Middle East and continue to make efforts to restore peace and tranquility to the Middle East and the Gulf region at an early date," said the spokesman.
China calls on Iran, US to adhere to peaceful solutions: spokesman
The U.S.-led coalition concluded its military mission in Iraq on Wednesday, marking the end of more than two decades of Western military presence that began with the 2003 invasion.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi on Wednesday announced the conclusion of the U.S.-led international coalition's mission to combat the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq.
On the same day, the Pentagon said the United States and its allies have officially ended Operation Inherent Resolve against the IS in Iraq.
To mark the occasion, the Iraqi government declared a four-day official holiday from September 30 to October 3, designated as "Sovereignty Day" celebrations.
"For Iraq, the withdrawal of U.S. forces means that national sovereignty is further fully implemented. Iraq will be able to decide its own stance independently. This is something to be happy about and an important moment of national significance," said Majid Al-Hasnawi, a resident.
Iraqi analysts echoed hopes that regaining full autonomy will accelerate domestic recovery.
"I think at this current time, the withdrawal of U.S. forces and international coalition troops will help promote the reconstruction process. Because the Iraqi people will rely on their own country's talents and institutions, and the people of this country will drive the national reconstruction themselves," said Faisal Radi, an economist.
The drawdown follows years of shifting security dynamics. The U.S. launched the Iraq War in 2003 and carried out a broad withdrawal in late 2011, leaving only a residual force.
In 2014, the Islamic State group seized vast territories across Iraq's west and north. The U.S.-led coalition to combat the extremist group was subsequently formed and deployed forces to Iraq.
In 2024, the U.S. and Iraq agreed on a two-phase transition to conclude the coalition's mission.
"Ending the foreign military presence is an important political decision made and being implemented by Iraq. The problem is that a foreign military presence may provide room for intervention in Iraq's domestic political affairs, and this kind of interference in Iraq's internal affairs is something the Iraqi side cannot accept," said Salah Boushi, director of the Iraq Center for Strategic Affairs.
U.S.-led coalition concludes military mission in Iraq
