By JAN YUMUL in Hong Kong and CUI HAIPEI in Dubai, UAE |
China Daily |
Iran and the United States have paused their strikes after two weeks of escalation, raising hopes of a return to dialogue, as the Gulf countries push for adherence to diplomacy in an exchange of phone calls aimed at promoting peace and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
In a weekly news briefing, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday that the US would not be allowed to determine the time of war and peace. He also said the US is struggling in a situation it had created itself together with Israel, noting that Washington seeks talks each time energy prices surge.
Replying to a question about the response of Iran and the US to Pakistan and Qatar's plan for negotiations on ending the war, Baghaei said he does not know "how you think they will manage the war, a war that was supposed to force Iran to surrender, but they have been stuck in a quagmire for five months".
