Ceasefire essential to avert global catastrophe: China Daily editorial

What was framed by the United States as a "necessary" military operation to prevent an "imminent threat" from Iran has devolved into a geopolitical nightmare, proving once again that in the modern era, war is a fire that no one can truly contain.

"It is a war that should not have happened — it is a war that does no one any good," as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said when speaking to the media on the sidelines of the annual session of China's top legislature in Beijing on Sunday.

Stressing that China calls for an immediate stop to military operations to avoid the escalation of the situation and prevent the conflict from spilling over and spreading, Wang rightly said that "force provides no solution and armed conflicts will only increase hatred and breed new crises".

The economic consequences of the attacks the US and Israel launched against Iran have been instantaneous and devastating. The Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil shipments, faces tangible disruptions, amplifying fears of stronger spillover effects. On Monday, crude oil prices surged past $114 a barrel, a jump of 23 percent from Friday's closing price, to touch their highest levels since July 2022. The threat to the energy supply chain of many countries is an important factor that will influence the course of the war.

On top of this, the targeting of civilian infrastructure, including desalination plants on which the region depends for its drinking water, in both Iran and some other Gulf states, risks creating a humanitarian crisis. The international community's condemnation of the conflict is loud and clear. From the halls of government to the streets of over 50 cities in the US, the message is clear: there must be a ceasefire and an end to the hostilities.

In this context, Wang articulated the fundamental principles that must be observed to find the right solution to the issues relating to Iran and the Middle East.

The sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of Iran and all countries in the Gulf region should be respected and must not be violated. Violations of these principles destabilize the international system and set dangerous precedents.

And by rejecting force, the international community can prevent unnecessary loss of life and promote peaceful conflict resolution. Might does not make right, and the law of the jungle must not return and rule the world. Willful use of force does not prove one's strength. Civilians are innocent and should not be victimized.

Also, the affairs of the Middle East should be determined by regional countries independently. Plotting color revolutions or seeking regime change will not find popular support.

All sides should return to the negotiating table as quickly as possible, resolve their differences through equal dialogue, and make efforts to realize common security. This underscores the importance of diplomatic efforts to achieve these goals and prevent further conflict.

In this process, major countries should play a constructive role and use their strengths in goodwill. They should act in the spirit of justice and righteousness, and contribute more positive energy to peace and development of the Middle East.

The US bears a significant responsibility to end this conflict. The world cannot afford another prolonged war in the Middle East and continued hostilities threaten a global catastrophe.

Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Iran's former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been selected as Iran's new supreme leader, Iran's Assembly of Experts announced on Sunday. For many observers, the choice signals continuity rather than rupture in Iran's power structure.

With both Washington and Tel Aviv having hinted that any successor to Khamenei could become a new focus of pressure or confrontation, how the US and Israel respond will be read as a measure of whether strategic restraint or narrow geopolitical calculations take precedence in a region already strained by volatility.