China’s diplomatic role in the Iran war has come into sharper focus following talks between Chinese and Iranian foreign ministers on Wednesday, days before US President Donald Trump is expected to meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
Beijing’s profile in international diplomacy has risen in recent years. Long reluctant to get involved in conflicts far from its borders, it has nevertheless emerged as a major player with attempts to mediate conflicts from Southeast Asia to Europe.
Beijing is not an official mediator in the Iran war, but all parties — including Washington and Tehran — say it has played an important role in efforts to de-escalate the conflict. The Trump administration is pressing China to use its influence with Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz.
During Wednesday’s meeting with Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for a “comprehensive ceasefire,” saying his country is deeply distressed by the war.
“The international community shares a common concern for restoring normal and safe passage through the Strait, and China hopes the relevant parties will respond as quickly as possible to the strong calls from the international community,” China’s official news agency Xinhua quoted him as saying.
Trump and Xi are set to meet in Beijing next week, with the conflict expected to be on their agenda. On Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on Chinese officials to use Araghchi’s visit to China to urge Tehran to release its chokehold on the critical waterway.
Wang’s renewed call for reopening the strait could provide fresh momentum to help push for an agreement between the US and Iran to end the war.
“Currently, it is possible to resolve the issue of reopening the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible,” Xinhua quoted Araghchi, who’s in Beijing for the first time since the war started on February 28, as saying.
