China Hosts Iran’s Top Diplomat Days Before Trump’s Beijing Visit
CNBC reported Wednesday that China hosted Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Beijing for the first time since the outbreak of the U.S.-Israel war on Iran. The visit came just days before U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to travel to China for a summit with President Xi Jinping.
A Meeting Beijing Chose to Publicize
China’s top diplomat Wang Yi held talks with Araghchi on Wednesday morning. State-run Xinhua News Agency confirmed the meeting. Chinese state media flagged the visit the night before. A foreign ministry statement revealed that Beijing extended the original invitation. No formal agenda was disclosed publicly. Iran’s foreign ministry said discussions would cover bilateral ties and broader regional matters.
Analysts described the timing as calculated. “Tehran and Beijing are aligning their interests before Trump’s summit with Xi, and the timing is deliberate,” Amir Handjani, a board member at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, told CNBC.
Hormuz Remains the Central Pressure Point
The Strait of Hormuz sits at the heart of the diplomatic maneuvering. Before the war began in late February, roughly 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas transited the waterway. Commercial traffic has dropped sharply since. China, the world’s largest buyer of Gulf energy, has managed the disruption through domestic stockpiles and a diversified supply base. But Beijing has consistently called for free navigation and an immediate ceasefire. Xi himself urged “normal passage” through the strait in late April.
Handjani warned Beijing has a firm economic interest in stability. Chinese leaders want tankers moving and goods flowing. A prolonged blockade would import inflation and risk recession across the region.
Background: China’s Ceasefire Role and Trump’s Pressure
Wang Yi and Araghchi have spoken by phone at least three times since the conflict began on February 28. Beijing helped broker a temporary ceasefire last month. U.S. advisors have urged China to lean on Tehran ahead of Trump’s May 14-15 visit. A director at a Beijing-affiliated think tank previously told CNBC that China lacks both the will and leverage to force either side to the table.
What Each Side Wants From the Visit
For Iran, the visit signals to Washington that Tehran retains powerful partners and is not diplomatically isolated. Danny Russel, a distinguished fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute, told CNBC that Tehran will seek guarantees on oil exports, financial access, and protection from renewed U.S. military strikes. In return, Beijing is expected to push Iran to halt threats against Gulf infrastructure and move toward reopening Hormuz. For Xi, hosting Araghchi lets China project influence as a responsible actor before Trump lands in Beijing.
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