IRIA News

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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Beijing on April 23, 2025, for high-level consultation meetings with Chinese officials and leadership ahead of the next round of the U.S.-Iran nuclear talks in Oman this week.

Araghchi’s discussions in Beijing focused heavily on bilateral cooperation and the nuclear issue, with both nations reaffirming their commitment to multilateralism and opposition to unilateral sanctions. “It is necessary for us to keep our friends in China informed of developments and to consult with them,” Araghchi said during the visit, emphasizing Iran’s appreciation of China’s long-standing role in nuclear negotiations.

China’s support for Iran

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed strong support for Iran’s stance, stating, “The Chinese side commends Iran’s promise not to develop nuclear weapons and respects Iran’s right to utilize nuclear energy peacefully.”

Wang further condemned unilateral sanctions on Iran by the U.S. “The U.S.’s abuse of tariffs has completely lost popularity and isolated itself from the international community. The international community needs to stand united more than ever to uphold multilateralism and safeguard the basic norms governing international relations,” he added.

The meeting comes amid a backdrop of growing friction between Tehran and Washington, and as Beijing continues to increase its purchases of Iranian oil—despite mounting U.S. sanctions. China remains Iran’s largest trading partner and the dominant buyer of its oil exports. Estimates indicate that around 90% of Iranian oil is directed to China, often at steep discounts and via alternative trading mechanisms designed to bypass U.S. financial oversight.

China-Iran strategic cooperation

In 2021, Iran and China solidified their relationship with a 25-year strategic cooperation agreement covering energy, infrastructure, technology, and security collaboration. Wednesday’s talks appeared to reaffirm that partnership, with both parties expressing a desire to deepen coordination on regional and global affairs.

The Chinese foreign ministry confirmed that Araghchi provided a detailed briefing on the status of indirect talks with the United States regarding Iran’s nuclear program. In response, Wang reiterated China’s willingness to support diplomatic efforts and opposed any threats of military action or coercive measures.

Third round of US-Iran nuclear talks in Oman

Iranian Foreign Minister’s visit to China has come just days before a planned meeting in Oman between Araghchi and U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. This third round of talks follows earlier sessions in Rome and Muscat. While the discussions have been described as “moving forward,” no breakthroughs have been announced.

Tehran remains firm in its stance that it will not negotiate under duress. “Negotiations under pressure, threats, and sanctions are meaningless,” Araghchi previously stated. Iran insists it is not pursuing nuclear weapons, but it has stepped up uranium enrichment to 60% purity, far above the threshold needed for civilian use, raising alarm in Western capitals and prompting new calls for oversight.

Revival of JCPOA

The 2015 nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), initially offered Iran relief from international sanctions in return for strict limitations on its nuclear activities. However, the deal unraveled in 2018 when then-U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the accord and reimposed sweeping sanctions under a policy of “maximum pressure.”

Since then, Iran has incrementally scaled back its compliance, while also increasing cooperation with nations such as China and Russia. These alliances have become even more vital as Tehran faces intensified sanctions, particularly targeting its oil trade.

VP Ding Xuexiang met with Iran’s FM Seyed Abbas Araghchi in Beijing on Wednesday, pointing out that the two countries should also expand pragmatic cooperation, strengthen coordination in international and regional affairs, and promote the steady and long-term progress of the… pic.twitter.com/0tWrTQbLT0

— Yu Dunhai (@YDunhai) April 23, 2025

US sanctions continue

On Tuesday, Washington imposed a new round of sanctions targeting Iranian oil magnate Seyed Asadoollah Emamjomeh and his corporate network. The U.S. Treasury Department accused the network of facilitating the sale of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of Iranian liquefied petroleum gas and crude oil to foreign buyers, including Chinese refiners.

Iran swiftly condemned the sanctions. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei called them a “clear contradiction with the United States’ demand for dialogue and negotiation,” and criticized what he described as Washington’s lack of goodwill.

Despite these setbacks, the upcoming talks in Muscat are seen by some observers as a litmus test for the revival of diplomacy. However, Iran’s emphasis on reinforcing ties with Beijing signals a broader recalibration in its foreign policy, one that places strategic partnerships with Eastern powers at the forefront of its international approach.