Friday | March 14, 2025
Cina, Iran and Russia called for diplomacy over “pressure and threats” and an end to “all illegal unilateral sanctions” following talks on Tehran’s nuclear program Friday in Beijing.
A high-stakes meeting in Beijing between the deputy foreign ministers of China, Russia, and Iran signals Beijing’s growing ambition to position itself as a key power broker on one of the world’s most urgent security issues. The meeting comes just days after former US President Donald Trump warned that there were only two options for dealing with Iran: negotiation or military action.
“The relevant parties should focus on addressing the root causes of the current situation and abandon sanctions, pressure, and threats of force,” China’s Executive Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu said Friday, according to Chinese state media.
Pressure is mounting on global powers to find a diplomatic solution to Iran’s nuclear program as a key deadline from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal approaches. If no resolution is reached, it could trigger the reimposition of United Nations sanctions.
China has consistently opposed US sanctions on Iran and criticized the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” strategy, which was introduced after the US pulled out of the 2015 deal during Trump’s first term.
Following Friday’s talks between Ma, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, the three nations issued a joint statement urging all parties to avoid escalating tensions and create a “favorable atmosphere” for diplomatic efforts.
The urgency surrounding Iran’s nuclear program has intensified amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The UN nuclear watchdog recently warned that Iran has significantly increased its stockpile of near-weapons-grade uranium. Iran, however, maintains that its nuclear program is “entirely peaceful” and denies any intention to develop nuclear weapons.
Trump has pushed for a new deal with Iran, while European powers have held multiple rounds of talks with Tehran in recent months.
Observers suggest that China’s diplomatic push reflects a broader strategy to position itself as a global leader challenging US dominance. Chinese leaders see an opportunity to expand regional influence and reinforce China’s image as a responsible global power—especially as Trump’s “America First” approach continues to reshape the global diplomatic landscape.
global power,” said Tong Zhao, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace think tank in Washington.
By having both Russia and Iran in the room, China “may also aim to highlight the significance of non-Western approaches to resolving global challenges,” he added.
‘Competing to solve the issue’
China has long supported the 2015 nuclear agreement—formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)—which restricts Iran’s nuclear program. The deal was originally negotiated between the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Tehran. Beijing has repeatedly criticized the US withdrawal from the pact and opposed American sanctions on Iran, which led Tehran to scale back its commitments under the agreement.
Under the terms of the JCPOA, countries have until October to trigger a “snapback” of international sanctions on Iran that were lifted as part of the deal.
“We still hope that we can seize the limited time we have before the termination date in October this year, in order to have a deal—a new deal—so that the JCPOA can be maintained,” China’s UN Ambassador Fu Cong told reporters ahead of a special UN Security Council meeting on Iran’s nuclear program on Wednesday.
Since returning to office, Trump has revived his “maximum pressure” campaign, pushing the US Treasury to impose and enforce tougher sanctions on Iran. Last week, Trump told Fox News that he had written to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying, “There are two ways Iran can be handled: militarily, or you make a deal. I would prefer to make a deal because I’m not looking to hurt Iran.”
However, Iran has shown little interest in engaging with Trump. Khamenei recently dismissed negotiation efforts from “bully states,” indicating Tehran’s reluctance to open dialogue with Washington.
It remains unclear what form a new agreement might take or who would broker it. Failing to reach a deal could escalate tensions in the Middle East, where Iran and Israel have already exchanged direct strikes, and might prompt Tehran to reconsider its position on nuclear weapons.
“Effectively, everyone’s competing to solve this issue,” said Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa program at the London-based Chatham House think tank. “In the climate of several parallel efforts, this was an opportunity for Russia and China to align and try to put forward their version of what a deal might look like.”
Vakil noted that both Beijing and Moscow share an interest in preventing Iran from weaponizing its nuclear program and are working toward a diplomatic solution. However, while China and Russia may favor a narrower agreement focused on Tehran’s nuclear activities, Europe and potentially the US would likely seek a broader deal addressing Iran’s regional influence and missile program.
During Friday’s talks, all three countries “reiterated the importance of maintaining the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,” according to a Chinese government statement. The statement also said that China and Russia “welcome Iran’s reaffirmation of the peaceful nature of its nuclear program.”
Observers say the talks could benefit Tehran, which views Beijing and Moscow as strategic allies in diplomatic negotiations. Iran and Russia have strengthened their partnership in recent years, with Iranian drones playing a key role in Russia’s war in Ukraine.
China remains a crucial economic and diplomatic backer for Iran but seeks to balance its relationship with Tehran against growing ties with regional rivals like Saudi Arabia. Last week, Russia, China, and Iran held their fifth joint naval drill since 2019, according to Chinese state media.
“For Iran, (the meeting in China) is a symbolic opportunity,” Vakil said. “It can continue to show its alignment with Russia and China … and signal that it remains open to engagement.”
China’s calculus
The alignment between China, Russia, and Iran could also serve Beijing’s broader strategic goals, especially as the Trump administration seeks to disrupt growing ties between these powers and counter what some see as an emerging “axis” of China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
Russia has already signaled a willingness to participate in nuclear talks between the US and Iran, according to a Kremlin spokesperson, as Moscow-Washington relations improve under Trump.
“The future policy directions of Russia and Iran will significantly influence China’s strategic options in the Middle East and beyond,” said Tong Zhao, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. He added that this is one reason why Beijing is enhancing communication with Moscow and Tehran on issues like Iran’s nuclear program.
“Such coordination also signals solidarity against potential US efforts to sow division among them,” Zhao said.
China has a significant stake in Middle Eastern stability. It relies heavily on the region for energy and has been expanding its strategic ties with wealthy Gulf states and traditional US allies. Beijing demonstrated its growing influence in the region in 2023 when it brokered a reconciliation between longtime rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia—a move that underscored China’s ambition to become a power player in the Middle East.
Beijing is also likely keeping a close eye on the potential economic fallout if Trump’s pressure tactics on Iran escalate. Observers say Chinese firms’ commercial ties to Iran could become collateral damage if sanctions are expanded or tensions rise further.
However, China’s engagement with Iran and Russia does not signal a blank check for their actions, according to Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, founder of the Bourse & Bazaar Foundation think tank.
“This is not an indication that China is interested in giving Russia and Iran a free ride or allowing them to subvert nonproliferation norms,” Batmanghelidj said. “What this reflects is China’s serious concerns that this crisis could escalate in the Middle East if Iran’s nuclear program is not handled through negotiations.”
Despite its growing role, there are limits to how much influence Beijing can exert as a mediator in the Middle East. While China has strong economic links with Tehran, it remains a relatively new player in the region’s complex diplomatic landscape, where the US has long held dominance.
“The Russians and Iranians understand that this is a relatively new role for China as a mediator for these larger international disputes,” Batmanghelidj said. “There’s a lot of realism about the extent to which China can actually be the architect of these negotiations.”
Still, both Moscow and Tehran appear willing to support China’s emerging role on the world stage. “They’re both very happy to participate in the spectacle of China emerging as this new player,” Batmanghelidj added.