China and Pakistan's foreign ministers on Friday called on the United States and Iran to end fighting and return to the negotiating table, after they met in Shanghai, according to a government statement. China's Wang Yi and Pakistan's Ishaq Dar jointly "expressed concern over the deterioration of the current situation, calling on the involved parties to immediately cease hostilities... (and) return to dialogue", the statement by Beijing's foreign ministry said. Wang urged all parties to fulfill their commitments and abide by the ceasefire memorandum of understanding, it added. The United States expanded its airstrike campaign against Iran early Friday by hitting more bridges and collapsing a tower at a key Iranian port, part of US President Donald Trump’s threats to start striking infrastructure to pressure Tehran to ease its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz. Iran launched new missile attacks several countries in the Middle East, including Qatar, a key mediator in the war alongside Pakistan. The interim ceasefire agreed to last month has collapsed, and the region has endured days of back-and-forth attacks by the US and Iran as they battle for control of the strait. Iranian officials say US strikes have killed dozens of people and wounded hundreds of others, with new casualties reported in Friday’s strikes.
