Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is set to travel to Beijing, late Tuesday, for conducting talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, as Tehran seeks to shore up diplomatic backing amid the ongoing joint US-Israel conflict and a myriad of rising regional tensions.
According to Iran’s Foreign Ministry, discussions will “focus on bilateral relations and regional and international developments”, with the war and the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz expected to feature prominently, reports The Guardian.
China has straddled a highly cautious line ever since the war began on February 28. While Beijing, much like many nations, had condemned the initial US and Israeli strikes on Iran, it has surprisingly remained neutral despite its closeness with Tehran, and as such has consistently called for de-escalation and a diplomatic resolution to tensions.
China remains the largest buyer of Iranian oil, yet its substantial stockpiles and diversified energy sources have shielded it from the worst effects of the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz — a chokepoint Tehran has effectively restricted to what it calls “hostile” countries.
The visit also comes ahead of a significant moment in US-China relations, as President Donald Trump is scheduled to travel to China between 14–15 May for holding talks with his Chinese counterpart President Xi Jinping, marking his first visit since returning to the White House in 2025.
Washington and Beijing have had increasingly strained relationships since the past year, with the two economic giants frequently clashing over tariffs and trade policy before agreeing to a temporary truce following a meeting in South Korea last October.
“I’m going to go see President Xi in two weeks. I look forward to that,” Trump said yesterday during a White House event. “Actually it’ll be a very important trip.”
In an interview with Fox News on Monday, the US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged China to intensify its diplomatic efforts to persuade Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping.
