Middle East crisis live: Trump insists Iran wants a deal despite initial rejection; China sees ‘glimmer of hope’ for talks

China sees ‘glimmer of hope’ for peace
China’s foreign minister has said that a “glimmer of hope” for peace has emerged due to moves to stop the war in the Middle East, despite Tehran vowing to keep fighting.

Wang Yi urged dialogue in separate calls with his Turkish and Egyptian counterparts, suggesting that both Tehran and Washington had shown signals they were willing to return to the negotiating table.

“With both the United States and Iran signalling a willingness to negotiate, a glimmer of hope for peace has emerged,” Wang told Egyptian foreign minister Badr Abdelatty , according to a Beijing readout published late on Wednesday and reported by Agence France-Presse.

The statement came hours before Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghch i said that “so far, no negotiations have taken place, and I believe our position is completely principled”.

double quotation mark Speaking of negotiations now is an admission of defeat.

Donald Trump insisted on Wednesday that Iran was taking part in peace talks, suggesting Tehran’s denials were because Iranian negotiators fear being killed by their own side.

Wang told Turkey’s foreign minister, Hakan Fidan , during the call that the rights and wrongs of the conflict in the Middle East were “crystal clear”, offering support to the country in helping to facilitate the resumption of negotiations.

Turkey has engaged in “intense” diplomatic efforts to end the war by talking to both Washington and Tehran, Fidan said this month.

double quotation mark Prolonging this war would only result in further casualties and needless losses, leading to a further spillover of the conflict.