Overview

• President Trump declared an imminent end to the 12-day war by proposing a ceasefire, which Iran dismissed as conditional on Israel’s withdrawal.
• China submitted a draft UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate, unconditional ceasefire, marking its boldest diplomatic move in the conflict.
• Despite importing up to 90% of Iran’s oil exports and backing Tehran’s sovereignty, Beijing’s condemnation of US strikes and ceasefire calls failed to sway Iran.
• Analysts argue that China’s repression of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang and transactional ties with Iran have eroded its credibility as a mediator in the Middle East.
• US officials urged Beijing to leverage its economic clout to deter Iran from blocking the Strait of Hormuz, but China responded only with rhetorical calls for de-escalation.