Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on Wednesday, just days before President Donald Trump is scheduled to travel to China for a closely watched summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The meeting underscored China’s growing diplomatic influence in the Middle East as disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz continue to rattle global energy markets and complicate relations among Washington, Beijing, and Tehran.
Following Wednesday’s talks, China’s foreign ministry emphasized the need to prevent further escalation, according to NBC News:
Araghchi’s visit, announced by state news agency Xinhua, is his first trip to China since the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran set off the most severe global oil supply shock in history, threatening the energy security of China, the world’s top crude importer.
After the meeting, Iran’s foreign ministry said that Araghchi briefed Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the talks with the U.S. and said: “Iran, just as it demonstrated strength in defending itself and remains fully prepared to confront any aggression, is also serious and steadfast in the field of diplomacy.”
“We will do our best to protect our legitimate rights and interests in the negotiations,” Araghchi said, according to the Iranian Students’ News Agency. “We only accept a fair and comprehensive agreement,” he added, with regard to talks between Tehran and Washington.
The Chinese foreign ministry said after the talks that “the current regional situation is at a critical juncture of transition from war to peace,” adding that “China believes that a complete cessation of hostilities is imperative, restarting the conflict is unacceptable and persisting in negotiations is particularly important.”
The timing of the meeting is significant because Trump is expected to press Xi during next week’s summit to use China’s economic leverage over Iran to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil shipping lanes.
U.S. officials have increasingly argued that China has unique influence with Tehran because Beijing remains Iran’s largest oil customer and one of its closest economic partners.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this week that he hoped Chinese officials would deliver a direct message to Araghchi regarding the crisis surrounding the strait.
“I hope the Chinese tell him what he needs to be told,” Rubio said during a White House briefing Tuesday.
Trump’s trip to Beijing had previously been delayed amid the escalating Iran war and concerns over regional instability.
The upcoming summit is widely seen as one of the most consequential meetings between Trump and Xi since the American president returned to office.
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