China said Wednesday it was “deeply concerned” over the conflict in the Middle East and urged against escalation after Washington carried out strikes on Iran over the downing of a US helicopter.

“Various relevant parties should maintain calm and exercise restraint, stop intensifying the conflict and escalating the situation, take concrete measures to ease and cool down tensions,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a news briefing. He called for “a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire as soon as possible.”

The strikes between Iran and Israel resumed after Tehran targeted Tel Aviv in retaliation for the Israeli attacks on the southern suburbs of Beirut, marking a new phase of escalation. This strikes resumed on the 100th day of the Middle East war amid renewed hopes of an imminent agreement.

The Iranian armed forces vowed to respond more forcefully to any further aggression against the country, following the exchange of strikes with Israel for the first time since the April ceasefire.

The spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters, the central operations room of the Iranian armed forces, said in a video statement, “The criminal United States and the Israeli regime must understand that a strong Iran, along with the resistance forces, will stand firm under any circumstances, and in the face of any threat, will never submit to the enemies defeated in war.” (AFP)