{"id":28849,"date":"2025-04-25T00:02:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-24T21:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/?p=28849"},"modified":"2025-04-26T01:16:54","modified_gmt":"2025-04-25T22:16:54","slug":"irans-foreign-minister-visits-china-to-discuss-bilateral-ties-and-ongoing-nuclear-talks-with-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/irans-foreign-minister-visits-china-to-discuss-bilateral-ties-and-ongoing-nuclear-talks-with-us\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran’s Foreign Minister visits China to discuss bilateral ties and ongoing nuclear talks with US"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

5 minute read<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held high-level consultation meetings with Chinese officials and leadership during his visit to Beijing on April 23, 2025,<\/strong><\/strong> ahead of the next round of the U.S.-Iran nuclear talks in Oman this week.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Araghchi\u2019s 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. \u201cIt is necessary for us to keep our friends in China informed of developments and to consult with them,\u201d Araghchi said during the visit, emphasizing Iran\u2019s appreciation of China\u2019s long-standing role in nuclear negotiations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


China\u2019s support for Iran<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that China supports Iran holding talks on its nuclear program with all parties, including the United States, adding that China is \u201ccommitted to a political and diplomatic resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue,\u201d and \u201copposes the abuse of force and illegal unilateral sanctions.\u201d Beijing is willing to deepen coordination and cooperation with Tehran on international and regional affairs, Wang told Araghchi, according to the official statement<\/a><\/mark>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed strong support for Iran\u2019s stance, stating, \u201cChina appreciates Iran’s commitment to not developing nuclear weapons, respects Iran’s right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wang further condemned unilateral sanctions on Iran by the U.S. \u201cThe 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,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang meeting with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Beijing, China, on April 23, 2025. (Image Credit: Iranian Foreign Ministry\/via X)<\/sup><\/em>

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China-Iran strategic cooperation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2021, Iran and China solidified their relationship with a 25-year strategic cooperation agreement covering energy, infrastructure, technology, and security collaboration. Wednesday\u2019s talks appeared to reaffirm that partnership, with both parties expressing a desire to deepen coordination on regional and global affairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Chinese foreign ministry confirmed that Araghchi provided a detailed briefing on the status of indirect talks with the United States regarding Iran\u2019s nuclear program. In response, Wang reiterated China\u2019s willingness to support diplomatic efforts and opposed any threats of military action or coercive measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Third round of US-Iran nuclear talks in Oman<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iranian Foreign Minister\u2019s 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 \u201cmoving forward,\u201d no breakthroughs have been announced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tehran remains firm in its stance that it will not negotiate under duress. \u201cNegotiations under pressure, threats, and sanctions are meaningless,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iran seeks to build on ongoing nuclear negotiations with the U.S., Russia, and China, while expressing readiness for talks with European powers. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has indicated readiness to visit Europe for nuclear talks, with France signaling willingness for dialogue if Tehran demonstrates seriousness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Revival of JCPOA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u201cmaximum pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/0tWrTQbLT0<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Yu Dunhai (@YDunhai) April 23, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>