President Xi Jinping says China supports lasting peace and stability in West Asia, stressing that the Persian Gulf region should not become a battleground for great-power rivalry, amid the possibility of renewed US aggression against Iran.

President Xi made the remarks during a meeting with visiting Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said in Beijing on Monday.

Noting that the world is undergoing profound changes, China’s Foreign Ministry cited Xi as saying that the region “should not become an arena for great-power rivalry and geopolitical conflict. Peace and stability in the region require joint nurturing and protection by all parties.”

Referring to Beijing’s efforts to try to stop the war that led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and caused disruptions to global energy supply, the Chinese president hoped to contribute “wisdom and solutions to resolving the region’s security dilemmas.”

He also expressed China’s readiness to strengthen communication and coordination with Arab countries, including the [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, to work together toward restoring peace and achieving lasting stability and security.

In a 20-point joint statement, Beijing and Muscat called for peaceful solutions to the current war between the US and Iran, the implementation of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two sides in June and the resumption of dialogue.

Later on Monday, China’s Foreign Ministry announced that the country’s special envoy to the Middle East, Zhai Jun, would visit Iran, Oman and Saudi Arabia this month.

Iran FM says deal with US hinges entirely on ‘political wisdom’ in Washington

Araghchi says the outcome of the current standoff between Iran and the US depends entirely on Washington’s political wisdom.

For his part, Haitham appreciated China’s positions on key issues concerning the region, according to Omani state media.

“We believe that development and stability are inextricably linked,” he said.

“The prosperity of nations requires an environment defined by security, peace, respect for state sovereignty, and adherence to international law -- an environment where disputes are resolved through peaceful means.”

Haitham’s trip to China marks the first visit by an Omani head of state since the countries established ties in 1978.

The US and Israel launched another round of aggression against Iran on February 28, some eight months after carrying out unprovoked attacks on the country.

Iran swiftly retaliated by launching barrages of missiles and drones at the Israeli-occupied territories, as well as US bases and interests across the region.

Iran also closed the Strait of Hormuz in response to the latest round of US-Israeli aggression, blocking US and allied vessels from navigating the strategic waterway.

The closure sent shockwaves through global energy markets, driving up oil and fuel prices, particularly in the US, and forcing Washington and the International Energy Agency (IEA) to release strategic reserves on several occasions in an effort to ease the supply crunch.

Following the signing of the Islamabad MoU between Iran and the US in June, Tehran reopened the Strait of Hormuz, but Iran’s Armed Forces shut the maritime corridor again after Washington violated the agreement by imposing a blockade on Iranian ports.