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Iran Foreign Minister Visits Beijing as China Eyes Peacemaker Role — AI-generated representative image: Iranian and Chinese officials meet in Beijing as China signals interest in a possible peacemaker role in the Middle East.

Editorial Team

Abbas Araghchi's China trip precedes a Trump-Xi meeting amid Western pressure over Iran's nuclear programme.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to arrive in Beijing on Wednesday for his second visit to the Chinese capital since the US-Israel war on Iran began at the end of February. He is scheduled to meet his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, for talks expected to cover the conflict, Iran's nuclear programme, sanctions and bilateral military ties.

The trip comes shortly before a planned meeting between United States President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington later in September, echoing the sequence of events during Araghchi's previous visit in May.

The timing of Araghchi's visit underscores China's growing diplomatic role in the Middle East conflict. Beijing has positioned itself as a neutral party seeking an end to a war that has unsettled global financial and energy markets, while continuing to buy Iranian crude oil and shield its own economic interests from Western sanctions.

For Iran, the meetings offer a channel to a major power that has opposed Western-led measures against Tehran and holds veto power at the United Nations Security Council.

Diplomatic Engagements and Beijing's Stance

During a BRICS summit in New Delhi earlier this week, Xi Jinping urged the bloc of Global South powers to act as peacemakers in the Middle East conflict and said China was willing to work with them toward that goal. He promoted a broad four-point plan for de-escalation centred on peaceful coexistence, respect for national sovereignty, adherence to international law, and balancing development and security.

Xi hinted at interest in potentially playing an explicit mediation role between Iran and the US, though he did not announce any imminent diplomatic initiative. Analysts note that while China wants the war to end, it has traditionally avoided deep entanglement in third-party conflicts and potentially failed diplomatic efforts.

Araghchi is also expected to discuss Iran's nuclear programme with Chinese officials, as Washington renews focus on Tehran's activities and Western pressure continues.

Nuclear Referral and Sanctions Pressure

Last week, the US and its European allies, including France, Germany and the United Kingdom, successfully pushed the board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to refer Iran to the UN Security Council. The last such referral came 20 years ago and was followed by six UN Security Council resolutions against Iran and sweeping sanctions that severely damaged the country's economy.

This time, the move is expected to be largely symbolic, as China and Russia have strongly opposed it and can veto any new Security Council measures. Meanwhile, Iran's nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami was barred from attending this week's IAEA General Conference in Vienna under snapback sanctions reimposed by European powers last year.

The US has continued building its own sanctions regime, launching "Operation Economic Outcast" to further isolate the Iranian government and enforcing a naval blockade of Iran's southern ports.

Sanctions Targeting and Military Cooperation

A large number of China-linked refineries, companies and financial channels allegedly facilitating dealings with Iran have been targeted under the sanctions, although larger Chinese banks have so far been spared. On Monday, the US Treasury designated Russia's VTB Bank under Iran sanctions, noting it is the only major Russian bank with a licensed branch in mainland China and direct access to China's national payment system.

China remains the largest buyer of Iranian crude oil and has vowed to protect its own interests despite sanctions, continuing to purchase Iranian oil stored beyond the reach of the US blockade. China's links to Iran's military capabilities also drew attention after the Wall Street Journal reported that Iran obtained high-resolution satellite images from Chinese entities before an attack on a US military base in Jordan that killed three American soldiers.

Trump downplayed that report, saying the Chinese were "basically doing what we do," and added that Xi "has behaved reasonably well."

What Lies Ahead

Inside Iran, reactions to Xi's latest remarks have been mixed. Former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the "constructive initiatives offer timely openings to de-escalate tensions," while Hamed Vafaei, a China researcher at the University of Tehran, cautioned that viewing Xi's words as an offer to mediate between Iran and the US was a "free interpretation" rather than reality.

No formal mediation initiative has been announced, and the outcome of Wednesday's meeting between Araghchi and Wang Yi will clarify Beijing's next steps.