China is making a move as a peacemaker in the Middle East as it prepares for a high-stakes meeting with US President Donald Trump. On Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Beijing to urge an immediate end to hostilities and a return to diplomatic talks. This visit is special because it is Araghchi’s first trip to China since the U.S.-Israel war with Iran began on February 28. Beijing specifically invited Iran to this meeting to align interests before Trump arrives for his summit with President Xi Jinping.
The main priority of China is to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Before the conflict, 20% of the world’s energy passed through this route, and as the world’s top buyer of Gulf oil, China wants to avoid the economic shock of a prolonged blockade. While China urged a prompt resumption of shipping, Iran’s public statements notably skipped over that specific request. Analysts suggest that Tehran is using this visit to show Washington that it is not isolated and has powerful friends, in hopes of gaining leverage and deterring further American military strikes.
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In return for diplomatic and financial backing, Beijing is expected to pressure Iran to stop threatening Gulf trade infrastructure. However, the relationship remains complex; China recently defied US sanctions on Iranian oil by implementing a blocking rule that tells Chinese companies to ignore American restrictions. This sets up a tense backdrop for the upcoming US-China summit. President Trump hopes to secure trade deals for American farmers and energy producers before the November elections, but the escalating crisis in Iran threatens to derail those plans. Ultimately, Xi Jinping is using this moment to position China as a responsible global leader capable of maintaining regional stability where others cannot.
