May 11, 2026 14:47 pm IST

Opinion | What's Behind Araghchi's Visit To China Right Before Trump-Xi Meeting?

Beijing remains indispensable to Tehran as an economic backer and diplomatic shield, but it is not prepared to become its war ally.

Harsh V Pant Harsh V Pant Columnist

Harsh V Pant Columnist

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi travelled to Beijing last week for consultations with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The visit carried considerable geopolitical weight. It marked Araghchi's first trip to China since the onset of the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran on February 28 - conflict that has unsettled regional balances, disrupted global energy markets, and culminated in Tehran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The timing was equally revealing. Araghchi arrived in Beijing only days before US President Donald Trump was scheduled to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Unsurprisingly, discussions ranged across bilateral ties, regional stability, the reopening of Hormuz, sanctions, and Iran's nuclear programme. Beijing reiterated its now familiar emphasis on de-escalation, diplomacy, and respect for Iranian sovereignty, while simultaneously underlining the imperative of restoring stability to global energy flows. Araghchi, for his part, endorsed elements of China's four-point peace proposal and projected Iran's resilience by arguing that the crisis had elevated Tehran's international standing.

This visit underlines China's evolving role in the US-Iran........

© NDTV