China’s foreign minister begins talks with Iranian counterpart in Beijing amid Gulf tensions

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi in Beijing on Wednesday, according to state news agency Xinhua, as regional tensions in the Gulf continue to simmer ahead of a key US-China summit next week.

Araqchi’s one-day visit comes just days before US President Donald Trump is scheduled to travel to Beijing for talks with President Xi Jinping on May 14 and 15.

The meeting follows renewed hostilities earlier this week between the US and Iran, as both sides launched fresh attacks in the Gulf while competing for control of the Strait of Hormuz through rival maritime blockades, raising concerns over the durability of an already fragile ceasefire.

Trump later announced that the US Navy would assist commercial vessels through the strategic waterway, but paused the operation on Tuesday, citing what he described as “great progress” toward a comprehensive agreement with Tehran.

Iran has not immediately responded to Trump’s remarks.

Araqchi said the attacks earlier this week underscored that the crisis could not be resolved militarily, noting they occurred even as Tehran was considering Trump’s request for negotiations.

China has maintained a broadly neutral stance throughout the conflict, while opposing attacks on Iran’s sovereignty and quietly supporting mediation efforts.

Beijing has repeatedly called on both Washington and Tehran to preserve the ceasefire and remove restrictions affecting navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.