While Beijing has offered itself as a peacemaker, it is unlikely to wade into the conflict directly, or to supply arms to Iran, say analysts. This is because it wants to avoid confronting the United States, for which military intervention against Iran remains a real possibility.

Donald Trump deepened uncertainty about his readiness to join Israel’s week-old war with Iran, signaling he might consider backing a ceasefire but also warning that he could order military action sooner than the deadline he flagged just a day earlier.