An editorial in Global Times warns that, whether the U.S. is “negotiating” or preparing for war, “the mere fact that the U.S. is contemplating involvement is itself a very dangerous signal.”
The issue is the failure of diplomacy: “Diplomatic means regarding the Iranian nuclear issue have not been exhausted, and a peaceful resolution is still possible. The common consensus in the international community is that military force cannot bring peace to the region—only by upholding the vision of common security can the legitimate concerns of all parties be thoroughly addressed. Before the current Iran-Israel conflict, the U.S. and Iran had already held five rounds of talks on the nuclear issue. While significant differences remained and no substantial breakthroughs were achieved, the negotiations were ongoing. Had it not been for Israel’s sudden military strike on Iran, the sixth round of talks would have taken place as scheduled in Muscat, Oman. It is clear that what triggered the conflict was not the collapse of diplomacy, but a military adventure.”
