Iran’s defense minister has traveled to diplomatic and economic ally China on his first reported trip abroad since a 12-day clash with Israel that briefly dragged the US into a new regional conflict.

China called for a ceasefire. But despite its recent history of mediation in the region, its role was limited this time.

By attacking Iran, President Trump has shown he is willing to engage in a distant war. This raises questions in Beijing about what he might risk for Taiwan.

President Trump said he wouldn’t stop China from purchasing oil from Iran, signaling he might ease the U.S.’s “maximum pressure” campaign on Tehran. “They’re in the oil business. I mean, I could stop it if I wanted,

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that China can continue to purchase Iranian oil after Israel and Iran agreed to a ceasefire, a move analysts said likely indicates a return to lax enforcement of U.

China, heavily dependent on Middle East oil, has tried to cast itself as a peacemaker. But in the Israel-Iran war, Washington emerged as the real power broker.

“If the Middle East is unstable, the world will not be at peace,” Chinese President Xi Jinping said June 19. “If the conflict escalates further, not only will the conflicting parties suffer greater losses, but regional countries will also suffer greatly.”

But that is what happened in the middle of the night on June 23rd, the 12th day of a war between Israel and Iran. Donald Trump announced the end of the war on social media (where else?), saying that the combatants had begged him to make peace.