Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned against opening "Pandora's box" in the Middle East after the United States announced the deployment of 1,000 additional troops to the region amid escalating tensions with Iran.  

Wang made the comments on Tuesday at a news briefing after he met with his Syrian counterpart Walid Moallem. He also urged all sides to exercise restraint to ease tensions in the Gulf region.  

Wang emphasized that the U.S. should change the practice of "maximum pressure," and added that "unilateralism has no basis under international law. Rather than resolving problems, it will create bigger crises." 

He urged Iran to "make prudent decisions and not so easily abandon the nuclear agreement," while calling on all relevant parties to respect Iran's legitimate rights.

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"China's determination to safeguard the comprehensive agreement has not changed," Wang stressed. "China has also worked closely with all parties to reconstruct the Arak heavy water reactor." 

Wang and Moallem agreed that efforts should be made to oppose the bullying practices and safeguard the basic principles of international order to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East.  

(Cover: U.S. sailors line up and watch Capt. William R. Reed, commander of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7, launch from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) during an aerial change of command, in the Arabian Sea, May 30, 2019. /VCG Photo)