China on Wednesday urged all parties to exercise restraint and pursue a cease-fire after the United States struck Iran and Iran retaliated against US bases across the Middle East.

File photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

"China is deeply concerned about the situation in Iran and urges a comprehensive and lasting cease-fire at an early date," Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Lin Jian said at a routine press briefing in Beijing.

US forces launched three strikes against Iran on Tuesday after the downing of a US Army Apache helicopter a day earlier and Iran in response attacked US military bases in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain.

"All relevant parties should remain calm and exercise restraint, stop inflaming tensions and escalating the situation, take concrete steps to ease the crisis, stick to settling disputes through political and diplomatic means, and realize a comprehensive and lasting cease-fire at an early date," Lin said