ISTANBUL

China Tuesday said it will continue its mediation efforts with “consensus” with “all parties” toward de-escalation in the Middle East, emphasizing its priority is to stop the ongoing US-Israel military conflict with Iran.

“Projection and escalation of the conflict does not serve any party’s interests,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said.

Guo was responding to a question by Anadolu about Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s phone diplomacy in recent days as the conflict has raged in the Middle East since the US and Israel initiated a joint military campaign against Iran on Feb. 28, which has so far killed around 1.300 people, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Tehran has retaliated, targeting US-linked bases and diplomatic missions, as well as other civilian infrastructure, in Gulf nations.

China “will continue to maintain communication with relevant parties, including parties to the conflict, to carry out mediation with consensus and deescalate the situation,” Guo said, expressing “grave concern” over the situation in the region.

He called on parties involved in the conflict to prevent regional turmoil from having a greater impact on the world economy.

“Energy security is of vital importance to world economy. All parties are responsible to ensure stable and unimpeded energy supplies,” he said, when asked about the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for the world’s maritime trade and energy supplies.

Guo emphasized that Wang had an “in-depth exchange” on the evolving situation with counterparts from many nations, including Iran and Israel, that all sides should “respect national sovereignty, reject use of force,” and move toward “political solution.”

Zhai Jun, the Chinese government’s special envoy to the Middle East, currently on an official trip to the region, has been engaging with the “relevant parties,” Guo noted.

“Our priority is to stop the military operation and bring relevant parties to negotiation and dialogue,” Guo said in response to a question by Anadolu about Zhai’s agenda.

Zhai began his trip with his first stop in Riyadh, where he met Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan.

Guo reiterated Beijing’s position on the election of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s new supreme leader, succeeding his father Ali Khamenei.

“Iran’s selection of a new supreme leader is a decision made based on its constitution, and non-interference in internal affairs is a basic principle of international relations,” Guo said, when asked about US President Donald Trump's remarks that the election of Ali Khamenei’s son was an “unacceptable” choice to him.