Iran Foreign Minister Visits China: Beijing May Shape the Course of the US-Iran War

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing on Wednesday (May 5) as mediation efforts for a peace deal between Tehran and Washington accelerated following the US president’s announcement of a pause in forced efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The visit and its timing underscore what analysts describe as China’s significant stake in the US-Iran conflict and the role Beijing could play in shaping the conflict’s trajectory.

According to a video replay broadcast by Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV, Wang Yi said at the start of the meeting: “We believe that a comprehensive ceasefire cannot be delayed, continuing hostile actions is unwise, and persisting in negotiations is particularly important.”

The visit comes a week before US President Donald Trump is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on May 14 and 15. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had previously urged China to pressure Iran to ease its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas passes.

The meeting took place amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington over the strategic waterway. Iran has restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz since the war began, while the US imposed its own blockade on Iranian ports after a ceasefire in April to force Tehran to accept Washington’s terms in negotiations.

The disruption of shipping through the strait, which has rocked the global economy, has at times deepened tensions between Washington and Beijing, with China hit particularly hard by the disruption of energy flows from the Gulf to East Asia.

However, as the US also experiences an economic downturn—including rising domestic fuel prices ahead of the midterm elections—analysts argue that shared interests between the two powers in reopening the Strait of Hormuz and securing a ceasefire create room for Beijing to play a key diplomatic role in any peace deal.

China’s Balancing Act

Throughout the conflict, China has tried to balance criticism of the US with calls for regional stability.

During Wednesday’s meeting, Wang Yi again condemned US and Israeli military actions against Iran as “illegal,” according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency. Beijing has consistently characterized the conflict as a violation of international law but has not fully endorsed every Iranian move.

China also criticized the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a dangerous escalation that risked returning international politics to a “law of the jungle.” Alongside Russia, Beijing vetoed efforts at the UN Security Council to condemn Iran’s actions at the Strait of Hormuz.

At the same time, China has resisted mounting US pressure over its economic ties with Tehran. Washington has sanctioned Chinese companies accused of buying Iranian oil. Beijing responded by instructing Chinese firms not to comply with the sanctions.

Yet US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent continued to publicly urge China to use its influence over Iran to help de-escalate the crisis, a sign of the recent thaw in US-China relations after a preliminary trade deal reached late last year.

Jodie Wen, a researcher at the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) at Tsinghua University in Beijing, said China’s message focused primarily on preventing further instability around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for China’s energy imports and trade.

“I think China will do its utmost to persuade Iran to return to the negotiating table and make the Strait of Hormuz as open as before,” Wen said.

What Does Iran Want from China?

China remains Tehran’s most important economic lifeline after years of US sanctions plunged Iran into deep dependence on Chinese trade and investment.

China buys the bulk of Iran’s oil exports, often at discounted prices, while Iran’s revenues are largely channeled into purchases of Chinese goods and services. That dependence deepened further after the two countries signed a 25-year strategic cooperation agreement in 2021 covering infrastructure, trade, and security.

Against this backdrop, analysts say Araghchi’s visit also aims to secure diplomatic backing from Beijing at a critical juncture in the conflict.

Chris Doyle, director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding, told Al Jazeera that Tehran is likely seeking clarity on how far China is willing to support Iran if it agrees to reduce tensions at the Strait of Hormuz.

“The Iranian foreign minister may be in Beijing to seek clarity from Beijing and assurances that if they choose to open the strait, Beijing will continue to support them diplomatically, and continue to support them at the United Nations,” Doyle said.

Tehran likely needs China’s backing at the UN to block any additional sanctions related to the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials are also said to be seeking assurances about the stance Beijing will take in talks between Xi and Trump next week, and whether China might make concessions to Washington that destabilize Tehran.

Doyle noted the timing of the visit is significant, as Washington increasingly pressures Beijing to use its influence over Iran.

“We have Trump coming next week, and the Trump administration in recent days has applied more pressure on Beijing to use its influence with Iran to exert pressure, and indeed to pressure Iran to sit down at the negotiating table to end the war, and certainly to end the closure of the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.

US media reports have also suggested that China has considered increasing military support for Iran. CBS News reported that Pentagon intelligence analysts assess that Beijing is weighing whether to provide Tehran with advanced radar and air defense systems, though it remains unclear whether any transfers have taken place.

Analysts say Iran’s immediate priority is likely to secure commitments that China will continue to support it diplomatically if Tehran agrees to reduce its actions at the strait.

What Does China Want from Iran?

One of China’s core interests is regional stability and favorable conditions for an economy that still grows faster than many Western countries. Free movement of goods through the Strait of Hormuz is central to that, as prolonged disruption threatens both the Chinese economy and broader global markets, as well as energy security.

Thus, analysts say, Beijing is expected to push Tehran toward keeping shipping lanes open and returning to negotiations.

At the same time, China views Iran as an important regional counterweight to US influence in the Middle East and does not want to see the Iranian government significantly weakened.

Iran also offers strategic benefits to China beyond energy. Tehran is increasingly promoting the use of China’s yuan in oil transactions, supporting Beijing’s broader efforts to expand the currency’s international role amid dollar hegemony.

Analysts also suggest that China may see the crisis as an opportunity to burnish its image as a global diplomatic power capable of mediating deals outside East Asia.

Pakistan has called on Beijing to play a greater mediating role in regional tensions, with officials telling Al Jazeera that China is seen as a trustworthy actor that can help stabilize US-Iran negotiations.

A successful diplomatic intervention would also give China greater leverage among Gulf energy producers like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, while easing pressure on energy importers across Asia.

What Can China Do Now?

Analysts say the coming days could prove critical.

The US and allied Gulf states have drafted a UN resolution to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Germany’s DPA news agency. The draft is said to call on Iran to stop attacking ships, remove naval mines, and cease transit fees.

The proposal has been revised in recent days to try to secure support from both Russia and China.

Doyle said the crisis offers a rare opportunity for Beijing to position itself as a major diplomatic broker.

“This would be a wonderful opportunity for China to become a broker in all of this,” Doyle said, citing Beijing’s role in restoring relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran in 2023.

“If President Xi and President Trump can achieve something, both can look like winners and help pull the global economy back from the brink.”

However, Doyle cautioned that the situation remains volatile. “A lot can go wrong—great tension in the region, lots of military equipment, and very little trust among all parties,” he said.

Still, with Trump set to arrive in Beijing and both the US and China eager to avoid a deeper economic shock, analysts remain hopeful that a narrow window for diplomacy—and a lasting peace deal—may now exist.