World News

In a rare call, China’s President Xi Jinping spoke on the standoff over the Strait of Hormuz with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to urge the restoration of transit through the vital waterway. He also pushed for an end to hostilities in the Middle East. “China calls for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, supports all efforts to restore peace and insists disputes be resolved through political and diplomatic means,” Xi told Saudi Crown Prince over phone on Monday, according to a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry.

United States President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he was extending the ceasefire with Iran until Tehran comes up with a proposal to end the conflict in West Asia permanently. Trump made the announcement hours before a two-week ceasefire, which began on April 8, was due to expire. However, Mahdi Mohammadi, advisor to the speaker of the Iranian parliament, said that the extension of the ceasefire “means nothing”, Al Jazeera reported. “The losing side cannot dictate terms,” he asserted. “The continuation of the siege is no different from bombardment and must be met with a military response.” Mohammadi was further quoted as saying by Al Jazeera: “Moreover, Trump’s ceasefire extension is certainly a ploy to buy time for a surprise strike. The time for Iran to take the initiative has come.”