President Trump signed onto a G-7 statement on Iran calling for peace and stability in the Middle East, after resisting attempts Monday by the Canadian and European officials at the

China will continue to support political and diplomatic efforts to resolve the Iran nuclear issue, firmly safeguard the international nuclear nonproliferation mechanism, and uphold peace and stability in the Middle East.

Speaking to pilgrims at the end of a special Jubilee audience June 14, the pope expressed deep concern over the “seriously deteriorating” situation in the Middle East, warning of the consequences of further escalation. “I want to strongly renew an appeal to responsibility and reason,” he said.

Despite evidence that the conflict between Israel and Iran is escalating, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism on Sunday that peace would come soon and cited the possibility that Russia's Vladimir Putin could help.

The Russian leader briefed Trump on his recent talks with officials in Iran and Israel, and reiterated Moscow's proposal to seek mutual solutions on the Iranian nuclear issue.

China warned the Iran-Israel conflict may spread wider instability in the Middle East, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi reaching out to both countries as their days-old conflict shows no end in sight.

Despite rising hopes that tensions in the Middle East could de-escalate following a resumption of peace talks, there has been a lack of upward momentum on Bursa Malaysia.

AMANEY A. JAMAL is Co-Founder and Co-Principal Investigator at Arab Barometer, Dean of the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, and Edwards S. Sanford Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University.