China urged on Monday an immediate stop to military operations and return to dialogue and negotiation, as fighting in the Middle East continues to spread and the risk of further escalation grows.

Responding to a question about US President Donald Trump's threat to Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian warned that if the conflict continues to expand and the situation escalates again, the entire region could be plunged into an uncontrollable crisis.

Force will only lead to a vicious cycle, the spokesman said.

China strongly calls on the parties concerned to immediately stop military action, return to dialogue and negotiation, and prevent this war, which should never have started in the first place, from continuing, he added.