China urged an urgent halt to hostilities in the war involving Iran, as tensions over the Strait of Hormuz continue to rattle global energy markets. Meeting in Beijing, Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Iranian counterpart that restoring safe and normal shipping through the vital waterway was a priority for the international community. Oil prices have surged amid the two month blockade, raising fears of broader economic fallout.

Iran’s foreign minister said Tehran remains committed to diplomacy, including talks mediated by Pakistan, while defending its military actions. China reiterated its support for Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear energy development, while opposing the spread of nuclear weapons, and expressed concern about the economic damage caused by disruptions in the strait.

The diplomatic push comes ahead of a planned summit between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping, where the conflict and the reopening of the strait are expected to feature prominently. Trump briefly paused a naval escort operation in the waterway, citing progress toward a possible agreement, raising hopes in energy markets that tensions could ease.