Iran's Foreign Minister is set to visit Beijing once again ahead of the upcoming US-China summit. Coincidentally, this pattern has emerged where the Iranian Foreign Minister visits Beijing about a week before meetings between the US President and the Chinese President.
Abbas Araghchi, Iran's Foreign Minister, is scheduled to meet with Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party and Foreign Minister, on the 16th, as announced by the Chinese Foreign Ministry. While the ministry did not disclose specific agenda items, key issues such as the Iran nuclear problem, relations with the United States, and the situation in the Middle East are expected to be discussed.
Araghchi previously visited Beijing on May 6, just a week before then-President Donald Trump's visit to China. Trump met with President Xi Jinping from May 13 to 15, during which trade, the Iran conflict, and the Middle East situation were significant topics of discussion.
This time, President Xi is scheduled to meet with President Trump in Washington on the 24th. Araghchi's visit to Beijing on the 16th comes just a week before this summit.
As Iran's Foreign Minister, Araghchi is expected to convey three main messages to China ahead of the US-China summit. First, he will seek China's understanding of Iran's position in negotiations with the United States, emphasizing the right of all nations to peaceful nuclear use.
Second, he will urge China not to overly participate in additional US pressure or sanctions against Iran. US Treasury Secretary Scott P. O'Neill is set to meet with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng this weekend to discuss economic trade negotiations, where he is expected to emphasize China's participation in US sanctions against Iran.
Third, he will ask China to adopt a different stance from the US regarding the Hormuz Strait and Middle East issues. Instead of pressuring Iran to normalize the Strait, he will advocate for diplomatic negotiations to restore navigation in the region.
In response, Wang Yi is expected to maintain dialogue with the US and call for the normalization of the Hormuz Strait. There is also a possibility that he will express a stance of not actively participating in US sanctions against Iran. During their previous meeting in May, Wang Yi expressed support for Iran's sovereignty and security, emphasizing the need to restore safe navigation in the Hormuz Strait.
The Iranian Foreign Minister's visit to Beijing ahead of the US-China summit has occurred twice now. Each time the US and China negotiate over global order, the issue of Iran comes to the forefront, solidifying China's role as a key player in Middle Eastern negotiations.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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