China has called for an urgent ceasefire and diplomatic efforts to halt the Middle East conflict, now in its third day, following US and Israeli strikes on Iran and Lebanon.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stressed dialogue and negotiation as the way to resolve the crisis, warning against the spillover of violence into neighboring countries.

Mao confirmed one Chinese citizen was killed in Tehran and said the embassy was assisting the family, adding that Beijing was not notified prior to the US military action.

China, along with Russia, has requested an emergency UN Security Council meeting, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guards vowed a fierce retaliatory operation against Israel and US military bases.