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Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing on Wednesday, as part of a diplomatic effort. peace treaty Things are going well between Tehran and Washington when the President of the United States announced that he would suspend the attempt to open the Strait of Hormuz by force.
The visit – and its timing – highlights what experts say is China’s priority in the US-Iran conflict, and the role Beijing can play in managing the course of the conflict.
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“We believe that the ceasefire will not end soon, resuming hostilities is not necessary, and continuing dialogue is very important,” Wang told Araghchi at the start of their meeting, according to a statement released by Hong Kong’s Phoenix TV.
The visit comes just a week before Trump meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on May 14 and 15. Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged China to pressure Iran to ease the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil and gas flows.
The meeting comes against the backdrop of growing tensions between Tehran and Washington over the waterway. Iran moved to block shipments through the Strait of Hormuz after the war, while the US imposed a blockade on Iranian ports following an April ceasefire in an effort to force Tehran to accept Washington’s demands for talks.
The disruption of shipping through the river, which has caused the global economy to stagnate, has sometimes increased tensions between Washington and Beijing, where China has been particularly concerned about the disruption of the Gulf’s power to East Asia.
But with the U.S. also feeling the effects of a recession, including rising domestic oil prices ahead of midterm elections, experts say the shared interest between the two world powers in reopening the Strait of Hormuz and re-establishing a ceasefire makes Beijing a key player in any peace process.
China balancing act
Throughout the conflict, China has tried to curb US opposition and call for regional stability.
During Wednesday’s meeting, Wang also criticized the actions of the US and Israel against Iran as “illegal”, according to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency. Beijing has repeatedly framed the conflict as a violation of international law and has stopped short of sanctioning any move by Iran.
China has also condemned the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a dangerous threat that threatens to return international politics to the “law of the jungle”. Along with Russia, Beijing has opposed efforts at the United Nations Security Council to condemn Iran’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz.
At the same time, China has resisted pressure from the US because of its economic ties with Tehran. Washington has ordered Chinese companies accused of buying Iranian oil. Beijing responded by advising Chinese companies not to comply with the sanctions.
However, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent still urged China to use its influence with Tehran to help resolve the crisis, marking the end of US-China relations following the first trade agreement reached at the end of last year.
Jodie Wen, a researcher at the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) at Tsinghua University in Beijing, said China’s communications are focused on avoiding further instability around the Strait of Hormuz, a key channel for China’s energy and trade.
“I think China will try to persuade Iran to return to the negotiating table and allow the Strait of Hormuz to remain open as before,” Wen said.
What does Iran want from China?
China remains Tehran’s most important economic channel after years of US sanctions left Iran heavily dependent on Chinese trade and investment.
China buys most of Iran’s oil exports, often at low prices, while Iran’s money is spent on buying Chinese goods and services. This trust has only grown since the two countries signed a 25-year agreement in 2021 on infrastructure, trade and defense cooperation.
Based on this, experts say that Araghchi’s visit is also aimed at gaining diplomatic support from Beijing at a critical time in the war.
Chris Doyle, head of the Council for Arab-British Understanding, told Al Jazeera that Tehran wants to be clear about how China wants to support Iran if it agrees to end the conflict in the Strait of Hormuz.
“The Iranian foreign minister is probably in Beijing to make a clear statement from Beijing and to confirm that if they decide to open the channel, Beijing will probably continue to support it technically, and continue to support the United Nations,” Doyle said.
Tehran may need China’s support at the UN to stop any further sanctions related to the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials are also believed to want to confirm Beijing’s take on next week’s talks between Xi and Trump, and whether China will allow Washington to destabilize Tehran.
Doyle said the timing of the visit was important, as Washington pressures Beijing to use its influence in Iran.
“We have Trump coming next week, and the Trump administration in recent days has been putting a lot of pressure on Beijing to use its power with Iran to pressure, and pressure Iran to come to an end to the war, and to end its closure of the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.
US media reports also say that China has decided to increase military aid to Iran. CBS News reported that Pentagon intelligence officials have assessed Beijing as trying to provide Tehran with advanced radar and air defense systems, although it is unclear whether any transfers have taken place.
Analysts say Iran’s latest move is to reassure China that it will continue to support it technically if Tehran agrees to reduce its role in the crisis.
What does China want from Iran?
One of China’s biggest interests is regional stability and favorable conditions in an economy that continues to grow faster than many of its Western counterparts. The free movement of goods through the Strait of Hormuz is very important, as long-term disruption threatens China’s economy and global markets, as well as national security.
Beijing is therefore expected to push Tehran to keep channels open and return to talks, experts say.
At the same time, China sees Iran as an important regional component of US influence in the Middle East and does not want to see the Iranian government weaken too much.
Iran also provides benefits to China beyond energy. Tehran has strongly encouraged the use of the Chinese yuan in oil sales, supporting Beijing’s efforts to expand its share of global currency amid US dollar hegemony.
Analysts say China may also see the crisis as an opportunity to bolster its image as a global diplomatic power that can engage in deals beyond East Asia.
Pakistan has already called on Beijing to play a more active role in the regional crisis, officials say Al Jazeera that China is seen as a reliable actor who can contribute to the stability of US-Iran talks.
A successful diplomatic intervention would also give China greater influence among Gulf energy producers such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and reduce pressure on energy exporting countries throughout Asia.
What can China do now?
Experts say the coming days could be difficult.
The US and allied Gulf countries have drafted a UN resolution aimed at ensuring that people pass through the Strait of Hormuz, according to German news agency DPA. The plan is said to call on Iran to stop attacks, remove sea mines and stop paying fines.
The proposal has been revised in recent days with the aim of gaining support from Russia and China.
Doyle said the crisis presents a rare opportunity for Beijing to present itself as a major diplomatic resource.
“It would be a great opportunity for China to be instrumental in all of this,” Doyle said, pointing to Beijing’s role in restoring relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran in 2023.
“If President Xi and President Trump can achieve something, they can both be seen as winners and help bring the global economy back off the rocks.”
But Doyle warned that things are still on the line. “A lot of things can go wrong – serious conflicts in the region, more weapons and less trust between all parties,” he said.
However, with Mr Trump planning to visit Beijing and the US and China keen to avoid an economic crisis, experts believe there may be an opportunity for negotiations – and a long-term peace deal.
