Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced Thursday (local time) that he would visit China, as the United States and Iran escalate military tensions over the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said via its Telegram channel that Araghchi would depart the same day for Beijing. According to the ministry, during his visit, Araghchi will exchange views with Wang Yi, Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of the Chinese Communist Party and Foreign Minister, on bilateral ties and the rapidly shifting regional and international situation. The ministry did not specify the duration of the visit.
Iran has maintained friendly relations with China. Araghchi spoke with Wang at least three times since the war broke out, including a discussion on the conflict on the 15th of last month. At that time, Wang said, "As a country bordering the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's sovereignty, security, and legitimate rights and interests must be respected and protected, while the freedom and safety of navigation through the international passage must also be guaranteed."
Araghchi's visit also comes ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's trip to China. Bloomberg reported that China, which purchases most of Iran's oil exports and wields influence over both Gulf states and Trump, is seen as a potential mediator. Analysts also noted that the U.S. Treasury Department has recently ramped up pressure on China to persuade Iran, including imposing sanctions on refiners in China that trade Iranian crude oil.
Iran resumed armed conflict on Wednesday, the first day of its "Liberation Project," attacking the United Arab Emirates (UAE) one month after a ceasefire. Immediately after the attack, Araghchi criticized the United States on X, saying, "The events in the Strait of Hormuz clearly demonstrate that there can be no military solution to a political crisis," adding that "the 'Liberation Project' should be called the 'Deadlock Project.'"
