China's top diplomat urges Iran, US to show restraint, revive talks

China's top diplomat, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, urged Iran and the United States to exercise restraint and resume talks following a meeting in Beijing on Wednesday. Wang emphasized the importance of maintaining rationality and engaging in substantive consultations, according to China's foreign ministry. He specifically called for the early reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for international energy transport and supply chains, to safeguard stability in the region.

Wang also expressed concern over the potential spillover of regional tensions into Yemen and the Red Sea, urging both parties to prevent further escalation. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, who is currently in Beijing on a one-day visit, reiterated Iran's stance against talks with the U.S. after Trump's remarks. Araqchi highlighted Iran's commitment to defending its national sovereignty and territorial integrity while welcoming diplomatic solutions that safeguard the rights of the Iranian nation.

The diplomatic talks between the Chinese and Iranian ministers took place one week before an anticipated meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington. U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced that the upcoming discussions would cover Iran and China's financial ties with Tehran, which the U.S. has been attempting to isolate from Western financial systems.

China, as the main buyer of Iran's oil, has consistently called for the restoration of normal and secure navigation through the Strait of Hormuz but has avoided directly challenging Iran's maritime threats. Wang stressed that the current situation underscores the need to reform and strengthen the security architecture in the Middle East, reaffirming China's consistent and stable policy toward Iran.