Chinese Envoy Warns Against Military Action as U.S.–Iran Tensions Escalate

Jan 29, 2026 at 03:37 PM

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Lanka Leader

China’s permanent representative to the United Nations has warned that any military action against Iran would further destabilize the Middle East, as reports emerge that the United States is considering new military options amid stalled nuclear negotiations.

Speaking at a UN Security Council high-level debate on the Middle East on Wednesday local time, Fu Cong said the situation surrounding Iran has drawn widespread international concern, with the region increasingly overshadowed by the risk of war.

Fu emphasized that Iran is an independent and sovereign country whose affairs should be determined by its own people. China supports Iran in maintaining national stability and safeguarding its sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, he said. “Force cannot solve problems,” Fu noted, warning that “any military adventurism would only push the region into an unpredictable abyss.”

He added that China calls on all parties to adhere to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, oppose interference in other countries’ internal affairs, and reject the use or threat of force in international relations. Fu urged the United States and other relevant parties to heed the concerns of the international community and regional countries, take steps to promote peace and stability in the Middle East, and avoid actions that could escalate tensions.

The remarks come as U.S. President Donald Trump warned on Wednesday that “time is running out” for Iran to reach a nuclear deal, urging Tehran to negotiate or face the potential deployment of a “massive armada” of American ships, according to NBC News.

Iran, meanwhile, has responded with strong warnings of its own. Iran’s foreign minister said the country’s armed forces are prepared to respond “immediately and powerfully” to any possible U.S. attack, following renewed threats of military action from Washington, Al Jazeera reported.