China urges US, Iran to implement memorandum, avoid use of force

08 July 2026 15:42

On July 8, China called on the United States and Iran to fully implement their signed memorandum of understanding, resolve disputes through dialogue and negotiations, and refrain from resorting to force.

Speaking at a regular press briefing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said a renewed conflict serves no party's interests and that military measures cannot resolve fundamental issues, Caliber.Az reports via Chinese media.

Mao made the remarks in response to a question about the latest escalation of tensions in the Middle East.

The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed electronically on June 17, 2026, by U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, with Pakistan serving as mediator.

On June 18, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formally endorsed the agreement in Islamabad as the mediating party. Despite its name, Trump signed the document while attending meetings at the Palace of Versailles in France, while Iranian officials signed electronically from Tehran.

The 14-point MoU established an interim framework to halt hostilities between the United States and Iran and launch negotiations on a comprehensive settlement. It declared an immediate ceasefire, required both sides to refrain from using or threatening force, and committed them to respecting each other's sovereignty.

The agreement set a 60-day deadline, extendable by mutual consent, to negotiate a final deal. It also called for the gradual lifting of the U.S. naval blockade, the reopening of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, phased sanctions relief, the release of restricted Iranian assets, and the creation of a joint mechanism to oversee implementation before a final agreement would be submitted to the UN Security Council for endorsement.

By Aghakazim Guliyev

Caliber.Az

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