Immediate truce and safe corridor: details of the China-Pakistan initiative to end the war in Iran
China and Pakistan have put forward a new initiative to end the war in Iran, including an immediate ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, according to the website Axios.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, told Axios that the plan took shape during his visit to Beijing on Tuesday.
When asked whether he supported the new initiative, President Donald Trump declined to comment on the details but told Axios that diplomacy with Iran was “going well.”
It is unclear whether Trump gave behind-the-scenes approval, but an informed source said that China had been helpful in efforts to reach an agreement.
It is unlikely that the Pakistanis — who are acting as a key mediator between the United States and Iran — would launch such an initiative with China if it were opposed by the United States.
As Iran’s top trading partner and largest importer of its oil, China holds significant influence in Tehran and has a clear incentive to seek an end to the war.
On Tuesday, Ishaq Dar met in Beijing with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi. At the end of the meeting, they announced a joint peace initiative including an immediate halt to hostilities, the delivery of humanitarian aid to all areas affected by the war, and the launch of peace talks as soon as possible, based on preserving the independence and security of Iran and the Gulf states, with all parties committing to refrain from using or threatening to use force during the negotiations.
According to the initiative, the parties to the conflict will immediately stop attacks on critical infrastructure, including energy facilities, desalination and power infrastructure, as well as peaceful nuclear infrastructure such as nuclear power plants. The parties will also allow the early and safe passage of civilian and commercial vessels, restore normal navigation through the strait as soon as possible, and conclude an agreement establishing a comprehensive peace framework based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law.
According to the Pakistani minister, the initiative resulted from his bilateral meeting with Wang Yi.
He said: “It is clearly a balanced initiative we agreed upon, and everyone will be pleased to endorse it.”
In a brief phone call with Axios, Donald Trump said that “negotiations with Iran are going well.”
When specifically asked about the China-Pakistan initiative, Trump did not criticize it and simply reiterated that diplomacy was progressing.
Analysts believe that China’s intervention as a mediator in a war waged by the United States would represent a notable geopolitical shift.
Trump is planning to visit China in May after postponing his trip due to the war. He has sought to strengthen relations with Beijing following the signing of a trade truce last year.
