As Iran and Israel exchanged fresh missile strikes, China broke its silence with a strong appeal for restraint and a return to diplomacy. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian warned that the “return of war serves no one’s interests” and urged all sides to preserve the ceasefire and continue negotiations. The statement came as Donald Trump pushed efforts to keep nuclear diplomacy alive and prevent a wider Middle East crisis. With tensions rising across the Gulf, Beijing’s intervention has fueled speculation over China’s growing role in shaping the region’s fragile balance of power.