How closer China-US ties – and more Xi-Trump summits – could work in Iran’s favour

China and the United States, Iran's key ally and adversary, found common ground over Tehran during their recent summit in Washington. Following the May meeting between the presidents of the two nations in Beijing, China was more explicit in its agreement that Iran must adhere to its commitment against developing nuclear weapons.

China and the US also agreed that no nation or organization should impose tolls on international waterways in a consensual statement released by the Chinese foreign ministry. Xi Jinping, during the Washington summit, expressed hope that the US and Iran would resolve their conflict through dialogue, which Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian thanked in a social media post.

The shift in China's stance between these summits indicated a deeper alignment between Beijing and Washington on Iran. Niu Xinchun, director of the China-Arab Research Institute at Ningxia University, noted that the increasing exchanges between the two nations and their growing consensus expanded the scope of their interactions.

Iran has traditionally relied on regional powers like Pakistan and Qatar to communicate with the US, but Niu emphasized that Iran harbors a concern, similar to smaller powers, of ultimately being used as a bargaining chip in major-power dealings.

A more stable US-China relationship benefits Iran by providing an additional and potentially more effective channel for Tehran to communicate with and influence Washington. However, Iran remains concerned about being utilized as a bargaining chip in major-power dealings. Iran's President has stated that Tehran is ready for genuine diplomacy but will remain firm, even in an "apocalyptic war."

China's strategic position, characterized by its legitimacy and economic weight, positions it as a crucial facilitator for Iran's post-war reconstruction and global reintegration, although it is not a significant player in Middle East security.