China's President Xi Jinping calls for Middle East peace, opposes great-power rivalry amid Iran conflict

Chinese President Xi Jinping told Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said that the Middle East should not become a battleground for great-power rivalry, emphasizing China's commitment to restoring peace and stability in the region. In a joint statement, both nations agreed on the need for normal and safe navigation to resume in the Strait of Hormuz and called for the U.S. and Iran to pursue peaceful options and restart dialogue. China's Foreign Ministry announced that its special envoy to the Middle East would visit Iran, Oman, and Saudi Arabia this month for 'shuttle diplomacy.'