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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on Wednesday, marking the Iranian top diplomat’s first in-person meeting with Wang since the U.S. and Israel launched strikes against Iran on Feb. 28.
The visit focused on bilateral ties and regional and international developments, a statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry said, without providing further details.
According to Iran’s semi-official ISNA news agency, the meeting took place as part of Tehran’s ongoing diplomatic consultations with several countries.
Araghchi welcomed China’s stance against the "U.S.-Israeli aggression" toward Iran and referred to Beijing as a close partner of Tehran, stressing that cooperation between the two countries would deepen under current conditions.
Commenting on indirect exchanges with Washington aimed at ending the war, Araghchi said Iran would only accept a "fair and comprehensive agreement."
"We only accept a just and comprehensive agreement," Araghchi stated.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi described the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran as "illegitimate and unlawful" and emphasized the need for a full ceasefire to permanently end the conflict.
Wang said China was ready to continue efforts to reduce tensions and stressed that direct talks between the parties were necessary.
"The region is passing through a critical turning point, and direct talks between the two sides are essential," Wang remarked.
China remains one of the main buyers of Iranian oil despite U.S. sanctions and a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports aimed at restricting Tehran’s revenues.
Araghchi’s trip also came ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s scheduled visit to China on May 14-15 for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The summit had originally been planned for April but was delayed due to the conflict involving Iran.
Trump told reporters on Tuesday that the situation involving Iran would be part of his upcoming discussions with Xi in Beijing. "I'll be talking about that; it'll be one subject, but he's been very nice about this," Trump stated.
The U.S. president noted that China receives around 60% of its oil through the Strait of Hormuz and described Beijing’s approach toward U.S.-led operations in the region as "very respectful."
"We haven't been challenged by China. They don't challenge us," Trump remarked, adding that his relationship with Xi had contributed to cooperation between the two countries. He also described Xi as a "tremendous guy."
Trump further stressed that economic ties between Washington and Beijing remained beneficial for both sides. "We do a lot of business with China and make a lot of money," he said. "It's different than it used to be."
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday urged China to use its influence with Tehran over the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil previously transited.
"I hope the Chinese tell (Araghchi) what he needs to be told, and that is that what you were doing in the straits is causing you to be globally isolated," Rubio told reporters.
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