Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the UN, speaks at a UN Security Council high-level debate on the Middle East on January 28, 2026, local time. Photo: Screenshot of CCTV report

As the US government is reportedly weighing a major new strike on Iran after discussions over limiting Iran’s nuclear program reportedly failed to make progress, the Chinese envoy to UN said at a UN Security Council high-level debate on the Middle East on Wednesday local time that any military adventurism would only push the region into an unpredictable abyss.

Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the UN, noted that the current situation in Iran has drawn widespread attention, with the Middle East shrouded in the specter of war and tensions continuing to rise. 

Iran is an independent and sovereign country, and its affairs should be decided by the Iranian people themselves. China hopes for and supports Iran in maintaining national stability, and supports the safeguarding of Iran’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. Force cannot solve problems, and any military adventurism would only push the region into an unpredictable abyss, he said. 

China calls on all parties to abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, opposes interference in other countries’ internal affairs, and opposes the use or threat of force in international relations, Fu said. 

China hopes that the US and other relevant parties will heed the calls of the international community and regional countries, do more to promote peace and stability in the Middle East, and avoid escalating tensions or fanning the flames, the Chinese envoy added. 

Time is running out for Iran to make a deal, US President Donald Trump warned Wednesday, as he urged Iran to negotiate on nuclear weapons or face the force of a “massive armada” of American ships, NBC News said. 

Iran’s foreign minister said the Iranian armed forces are ready to “immediately and powerfully” respond to any possible attack by the US, hours after Trump reiterated a threat to take military action against the country, the Al Jazeera reported on Wednesday.