All relevant parties must uphold MoU terms: China Daily editorial

The signing of the first-phase Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran offers not only hope for a ceasefire but also for further negotiations aimed at achieving lasting peace.

As the international community watches closely, it is imperative that all parties involved, including Israel, commit to upholding this agreement and work diligently toward regional stability.

The text of the MoU covers several key areas, including the cessation of hostilities, maritime security and navigation, reconstruction and economic assistance, sanctions relief, nuclear-related commitments and an executive mechanism. It states that the two sides commit to negotiating and achieving the final deal in a maximum of 60 days, extendable with mutual consent.

But the road to peace is rarely straight. Iran's announcement that it would close the Strait of Hormuz, citing Israel's continued attacks in Lebanon as a violation of the ceasefire deal, underscores the challenges in implementing the MoU.

The US-Iran negotiations that are scheduled to open in Burgenstock, Switzerland, are a testament to both parties' willingness to carry on the momentum of the MoU to continue dialogue. But much remains to be done to hold up the current fragile ceasefire and lay the groundwork for a final agreement.

The central question now is whether the US has both the genuine willingness and the practical capability to rein in Israel — especially given that Tel Aviv has made clear its determination to act of its own accord.

While Israel has agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon, its refusal to withdraw from Lebanon poses a continued threat to peace. Reportedly, Israel is conducting negotiations with the US on maintaining its deployment of troops in southern Lebanon. For the MoU to succeed, Israel must cease its attacks and withdraw its forces, creating an environment conducive to negotiations.

Given the current challenges in implementing the 14-point memorandum and the fragile nature of the US-Iran ceasefire, the US-Iran negotiations, which were originally supposed to focus on the Iran nuclear issue, might now include discussions on the Lebanon ceasefire and the Strait of Hormuz.

The US-Iran talks may be in the spotlight, but their fate will be decided in the US-Israel negotiations. Tehran's revival of the Strait of Hormuz threat was to prompt the US to restrain Israel. The success of the talks in Switzerland hinges on the ability of all parties to adhere to their commitments and avoid actions that could derail the process.

China hopes that both the US and Iran will approach the second-phase negotiations with a rational and pragmatic attitude, working together toward positive outcomes.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a regular news briefing on Thursday that China welcomes the signing of the MoU and hopes that all relevant parties "will uphold the spirit of contract and implement it in good faith".

Beijing has been working for an end to the fighting since the outbreak of the conflict, demonstrating its commitment to peace through various diplomatic initiatives. The four-point proposal it put forward outlines a clear vision for safeguarding peace and stability, emphasizing good neighborliness, development, security and cooperation.

The path to lasting peace in the Middle East is fraught with challenges, but the MoU between the US and Iran offers a glimmer of hope as it provides the scaffolding for talks to end the conflict. For this hope to be translated into reality, all parties, including Israel, must prioritize peace and stability.

China stands ready to support these efforts, but the success of the forthcoming negotiations depends on the willingness of the parties directly involved to approach discussions with rationality and pragmatism.