China welcomed the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Wednesday, marking Beijing’s first official comment since leaders announced the deal. Spokesperson Mao Ning said China “welcomes the ceasefire agreement” and will back mediation efforts by Pakistan and other parties. Mao noted Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held 26 phone calls with counterparts from relevant countries, and Beijing’s special Middle East envoy traveled among Gulf states to drum up support for a five-point Chinese-Pakistani peace proposal.
The ceasefire was announced amid continued tensions in the Gulf and follow-up incidents. The Abu Dhabi Media Office said operations at the Habshan gas complex were suspended after multiple fires were ignited by falling projectile debris following what officials described as a successful interception. The office said three people — two Emirati citizens and one Indian national — sustained minor injuries. It first reported a fire at the facility at 4:38 a.m. local time on Wednesday, shortly after the U.S. and Iranian announcements of the tentative ceasefire.
Bahrain’s Interior Ministry reported two people were injured and several homes damaged by shrapnel from air defenses that intercepted an Iranian drone, according to a ministry post on social media.
In a late-night social media post after the ceasefire announcement, President Donald Trump called the development “a big day for World Peace!” and said the U.S. “will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz.” He added that there would be “lots of positive action” and suggested economic activity and reconstruction in Iran could follow, saying the U.S. would assist with supplies and remain in the region “in order to make sure that everything goes well.”
Earlier Tuesday, Trump had tied the two-week ceasefire to the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, stating the arrangement was contingent on the “complete, immediate, and safe opening” of the critical waterway. It remains unclear when the strait will be reopened and what specific role the United States might play in facilitating maritime traffic.
The developments come as regional and international actors, including Pakistan and China, step up diplomatic efforts to stabilize the situation and support implementation of the temporary ceasefire.