China Urges US Iran Restraint, Calls for Hormuz Reopening

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remarks during a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Beijing on Wednesday, as diplomatic efforts continue amid escalating regional tensions.

Wang said China was willing to strengthen dialogue and coordination with Iran and safeguard its legitimate rights and interests. He also urged all parties to take effective measures to reopen the Strait of Hormuz at the earliest possible opportunity.

“We do not wish to see regional tensions spill over further into Yemen and the Red Sea,” Wang said.

The meeting marked another high-level consultation between Beijing and Tehran since the conflict intensified. Wang and Araghchi had previously met in Beijing in May and were also seen speaking briefly on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in New Delhi over the weekend.

China and Iran maintain a comprehensive strategic partnership, with energy and trade forming major components of their bilateral relationship. China remains one of the largest buyers of Iranian oil, while official figures show bilateral trade exceeded $41 billion last year.

The economic relationship has continued despite heightened tensions in the Middle East following US and Israeli military strikes against Iranian targets and Iran’s subsequent missile and drone attacks on Israeli territory and US military positions in the region.

Beijing has also rejected US media reports alleging that Chinese entities provided Tehran with satellite imagery of a military base in Jordan housing American troops before and after an Iranian strike that killed three US soldiers.

The United States has previously warned China against supplying weapons to Iran, while Washington sanctioned three China-based satellite companies in May over alleged assistance to Iran’s military operations.

Wang’s talks with Araghchi come ahead of an expected meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump in Washington, where the Iran conflict is expected to be among several major issues discussed.