China and Pakistan Propose Peace Plan Amid Ongoing Conflict

The Chinese Communist Party, along with Pakistan, announced a “peace proposal” on Tuesday aimed at resolving the ongoing war between Iran and the United States. However, the plan appeared vague, suggesting measures like “cessation of hostilities” and “initiating peace negotiations soon,” without confirming that the conflicting parties had already begun discussions.

Beijing seems to be struggling to assert its role in the conflict that erupted on February 28, when President Donald Trump initiated Operation Epic Fury, leading to the ousting of Iranian leader Ali Khamenei. As a close ally of Iran, which has helped propel China’s involvement in the anti-American BRICS coalition, China has wavered between criticizing U.S. military actions and subtly advising Iran to avoid interfering with commercial activities in the vital Strait of Hormuz—actions that indirectly harm China’s interests. Additionally, China has solid ties with Gulf nations like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE—countries Iran has targeted in retaliation for its actions.

In early March, the Chinese government sent a special envoy, Zhai Jun, to the Middle East to engage with various nations and hear their concerns about the conflict. However, this diplomatic effort seems to have not significantly influenced the situation.

On Tuesday, Beijing and Islamabad jointly unveiled a peace initiative, highlighted by the state-run Xinhua News Agency. The proposal outlined five key aspects: immediately halt hostilities, begin peace talks promptly, safeguard non-military targets, ensure navigation safety, and uphold the United Nations Charter.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning summed up the approach as “stop, dialogue, and guarantee.” He expressed that a month into the conflict, the repercussions have become increasingly detrimental to regional and global stability, especially impacting energy supplies and industrial operations.

China, being one of Iran’s major oil purchasers, is believed to be particularly affected by these disruptions. Despite this, Mao suggested that endorsing the peace plan serves the “common interest of regional countries and the wider world.”

In his remarks, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi focused more on strengthening ties with Pakistan’s government than on any direct involvement in the Iranian conflict. He stressed the importance of strategic communication and cooperation between China and Pakistan on regional issues, placing expectations on Pakistan to play a vital role in de-escalating tensions and fostering peace discussions.

Pakistan appears set to take charge in mediation, with countries like Qatar and Oman also positioned to engage. Recently, Pakistan claimed it relayed a 15-point peace proposal from the U.S. to Iran, a claim Tehran confirmed without substantial discussion yet. The actual impact of a Chinese-led peace proposal remains uncertain, especially given existing negotiations.

At this point, there’s no clear indication that Iran or the United States—or even Israel, which is addressing its own military concerns regarding Iran—are taking the Chinese “peace plan” seriously. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that both Iran and the U.S. are indeed in talks, countering the assumptions behind the proposal. He clarified that contact with U.S. officials does not equate to negotiation.

President Trump has indicated a desire for a ceasefire that would preclude future hostilities, though only under specific safeguards. On Wednesday, he mentioned that the Iranian government might be open to a ceasefire.

Trump suggested that the new Iranian leadership appears less extreme than its predecessors and has even requested a ceasefire from the U.S. However, he also stated that the open navigation of the Strait of Hormuz remains a crucial factor in any potential agreement.