ISLAMABAD (MNN); China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, on Tuesday told his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in a phone call that “talking is always better” than fighting, after Tehran dismissed claims by US President Donald Trump that negotiations were ongoing.
The escalating conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran has intensified across the Middle East and aggravated energy supply bottlenecks in the Strait of Hormuz, which handles roughly one-fifth of global crude shipments.
Trump had stated on Monday that his administration was engaging with an unnamed “top person” in Iran’s leadership and extended by five days a deadline to strike Iranian power plants. However, Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said “no negotiations” were taking place, accusing Trump of attempting to manipulate financial and oil markets.
Beijing, a strategic partner of Iran, has maintained that it does not support Tehran’s strikes on Gulf states hosting US bases and has called for a ceasefire. According to China’s foreign ministry, Wang Yi told Araghchi that he hoped “all parties can seize every opportunity and window for peace and start the peace talks process as quickly as possible.”
Araghchi responded that Iranian vessels would allow “safe passage” through the strait, except for ships belonging to “countries currently engaged in conflict.” He also emphasized that Iran seeks a comprehensive resolution to the crisis rather than a temporary ceasefire and thanked China for its humanitarian assistance. The call was reportedly initiated at Iran’s request.
Trump had planned to visit Beijing this month but postponed the trip due to the ongoing conflict and urged China and other nations to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
