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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi will pay a visit to China on Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghai said on Monday. The trip will take place on the eve of the third round of indirect nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington, which are scheduled for Saturday in the Omani capital of Muscat.
According to Baghaei, Araqchi plans to discuss with the Chinese leadership the latest developments related to Iran’s nuclear programme. “It is only natural that we will consult and inform China about the progress of the negotiations between Iran and the United States,” he said, adding that Beijing can play a constructive role in this process.
Last week, during a visit to Moscow, the Iranian diplomat stressed that Tehran traditionally maintains close consultations with Russia and China on the nuclear dossier.
Negotiations under sanctions pressure
According to Reuters, Iran and the United States resumed talks in early April to limit Tehran’s nuclear programme. Western countries accuse Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons, a charge that Iran has consistently denied. Tehran, in turn, is seeking the lifting of US sanctions imposed by Donald Trump during his first term in office, when the US withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA) between Iran and world powers, including China and Russia.
Since Trump’s return to power in January 2025, sanctions pressure on Tehran has only intensified. The US, among other things, has imposed restrictions on independent Chinese refineries – the so-called “teapots” – which remain the main buyers of Iranian oil and a source of foreign exchange support for Iran’s weakened economy.
“The policy of maximum pressure is aimed not only at Iran but also at other countries and contradicts the principles of free trade. In the case of China, these sanctions are also aimed at undermining South-South cooperation,” Bagai said.
Oil, billions and geopolitics
According to the analytical company Kpler, in 2024, China bought at least 77% of Iran’s total crude oil exports, or about 1.6 million barrels per day. Although the official value of these supplies is not disclosed, Reuters estimates the trade volume at around $29 billion a year, taking into account a 20% discount to Brent crude oil prices to cover logistics costs.
Amid growing economic interdependence, official Beijing is holding back on confirming the visit. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday: “China and Iran maintain exchanges and contacts at all levels and in various fields. I have no information on the visit in question.”
Araqchi’s visit to Beijing on the eve of the new talks in Muscat could be crucial for Iran’s position in the diplomatic game. Against the backdrop of Trump’s tough policies and new sanctions, Tehran is increasingly counting on the support of its old partners, China and Russia, in its struggle to relieve pressure and maintain its own political course.
