Peace talks are "in the fundamental interests of the Iranian people and are also the shared hope of regional countries and the international community," Wang Yi said, according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement.

He said China was willing to continue to play a "constructive role" towards peace in the Middle East after a first round of Iran-US talks in Islamabad at the weekend failed to reach an agreement.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran "looks forward to China playing a positive role in promoting peace and a cessation of conflict", according to the Chinese readout.

Araghchi also expressed "Iran's willingness to continue seeking a rational, realistic solution through peaceful negotiations", it said.

Wang also said Iran's "sovereign security and legitimate rights and interests should be respected and safeguarded" as a country bordering the vital Strait of Hormuz, while "at the same time... freedom of navigation and security should be guaranteed".