The recent joint attacks by Israel and the United States on Iranian cities and Iran's retaliatory missile and drone strikes have further raised the stakes in the Middle East crisis.

In another recent development, Pakistan has emerged as a potential mediator, with its Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar suggesting the possibility of hosting talks between the US and Iran. Both Washington and Tehran have expressed confidence in Pakistan's ability to facilitate these negotiations.

Beijing has repeatedly called for an end to military operations and the initiation of peace talks to avoid additional casualties and the spread of the conflict. It has consistently advocated peace, emphasizing that prolonged conflict benefits no one.

China commends Pakistan's mediation efforts and stands ready to enhance communication and coordination with Pakistan and other intermediaries to work toward a ceasefire and regional stability in the Middle East.

Yet far from seeking a diplomatic off-ramp, the US is positioning forces to deepen its military engagement, deploying additional warships and troops to the region. In total, the Pentagon now has some 50,000 personnel supporting the war effort.

The White House has also explicitly warned that if no agreement is reached "shortly", the US will "obliterate" Iran's power plants, oil wells, and even occupy Kharg Island to seize Iranian oil, while also threatening desalination plants that supply water to the Iranian people.

This is not the right way to seek an agreement to end the crisis; it is the behavior of a hegemonic power intent on plunder.

Attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are unacceptable, and the path to resolution lies in negotiation, not violence.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei dismissed the US' proposed 15-point truce plan, describing it as excessive and unrealistic.

He also noted that Iran has not engaged in direct negotiations with the US since the last round of talks in Geneva in February — during which the US and Israel launched their attacks on Iran — and is relying instead on intermediaries such as Pakistan to convey messages.

Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil supply travels, remains effectively closed, disrupting supply chains, triggering inflationary pressures, and threatening shortages of key commodities such as fertilizers. The conflict has expanded further with the Iran-aligned Houthis entering the war, launching missiles toward Israel and threatening the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a maritime corridor through which approximately 12 percent of global trade passes, marking a worrying turn that threatens to pull the region deeper into a vortex of violence.

The Middle East cannot afford further escalation. The international community must act decisively to facilitate dialogue. As Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez rightly put it, the US-Israeli attacks on Iran are "reckless" and "illegal".

The human cost of the conflict is already alarming, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence. The international community must recognize the urgency of the situation and rally behind efforts to bring all parties to the negotiating table.

As China has repeatedly pointed out, this is a war that should never have happened. It's a war that benefits no one. There is no military solution to this conflict; only an immediate return to dialogue and negotiation can halt the suffering and prevent an even greater catastrophe. The longer the fighting continues, the harder it will be to contain. All parties should act to press the stop button.

China urges all parties to seize every opportunity for peace and will continue to support mediation efforts. Only through sincere and inclusive negotiations can the region hope to achieve a lasting resolution, preventing further loss of life and paving the way for stability and cooperation. The world watches with bated breath, hoping that the parties involved will choose the path of diplomacy over destruction.