China Presses Iran to Reopen Hormuz and Halt Hostilities Before Trump-Xi Summit

CNBC reported Wednesday that Beijing pressed Tehran to pursue a diplomatic settlement and avoid reigniting full-scale hostilities in the Middle East. The push came during a face-to-face meeting in Beijing between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, just days before U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to visit China.

Beijing Positions Itself as a Key Broker

Wang called for an immediate halt to fighting and urged all parties to keep diplomatic channels open. China’s foreign ministry also demanded the swift reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to commercial vessels. Notably, Iran’s own statement on the talks, published on Telegram, made no mention of the Hormuz demand — a telling omission that underscored a gap between the two sides’ public positions.

Beijing confirmed it initiated the invitation for Araghchi’s visit, with state media publicizing the meeting proactively ahead of schedule. Analysts told CNBC the choreography was intentional. Amir Handjani, a board member at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, said Tehran and Beijing were deliberately aligning their messaging before Trump sits down with Chinese President Xi Jinping. “Chinese leadership wants tankers moving and trade flowing out of the Persian Gulf into Asian markets,” Handjani said, warning that a prolonged blockade risks an inflationary shock across the region.

Why Hormuz Matters so Much to China

Before the outbreak of the U.S.-Israel war on Tehran in late February, roughly 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas transited the strait annually. Commercial traffic has since fallen sharply. China, the largest buyer of Gulf energy, has drawn on domestic stockpiles and its diversified energy mix to absorb the disruption. That buffer, however, will not hold indefinitely. Xi himself called for “normal passage” through the waterway in late April, and Wang has held at least three phone calls with Araghchi since hostilities began.

The Strategic Calculus Ahead of Trump’s Visit

Trump’s advisors have reportedly urged Beijing to lean on Tehran to restore shipping, framing the issue as a litmus test for Chinese responsibility. A researcher at a Beijing-affiliated think tank told CNBC previously that China lacked both the will and the leverage to force either side’s hand, despite brokering a temporary ceasefire last month.

For Tehran, the Beijing visit is a means of demonstrating to Washington that it retains powerful friends and alternatives. Danny Russel of the Asia Society Policy Institute told CNBC that Iran would likely seek guarantees covering oil revenues, financial access, and protection from further U.S. military strikes. In exchange, Beijing is expected to push Iran to stop menacing Gulf infrastructure and move toward reopening the strait. Trump’s summit with Xi is scheduled for May 14-15, giving both sides a narrow window to shape the diplomatic terrain.

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