'Return to the right track of resolving issues': China urges Iran and Israel to quickly de-escalate - Video
On Monday, June 16, China called on both Iran and Israel to take swift and concrete steps to de-escalate hostilities, following deadly exchanges between the two countries.
"We urge all parties to immediately take measures to cool down the tensions, prevent the region from falling into greater turmoil, and create conditions for returning to the right track of resolving issues through dialogue and negotiations," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said.
Tensions between Iran and Israel soured as the two rivals engaged in a rare and the most intense confrontation in decades.
The conflict ignited on Friday, June 13, when Israel launched a large-scale air assault, just days ahead of a planned sixth round of nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States.
Iran, in a fierce response, launched successive waves of drone and missile attacks, with nighttime strikes illuminating the skies above Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
After an overnight missile attack launched by Iran on Israel from Saturday night (June 14) through to Sunday morning (June 15), 10 people were reported dead.
Iran's government, however, has confirmed the death of 78 people and 320 others battered with injured during the initial stage of Israel's attack.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
