Araghchi, Wang Yi meet ahead of Xi-Trump talks; China urges return to Islamabad pact

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is in China for a one-day visit, days after Tehran officials held talks on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in New Delhi. He met Chinese counterpaert Wang Yi in Beijing on Wednesday as the two sides discussed the Iran-US conflict, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the risk of further escalation in Yemen and the Red Sea.

The talks came just days before Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington, with Iran and China's financial links with Tehran likely to feature in the broader US-China discussions. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said Trump and Xi will continue talks on Iran and Beijing's economic ties with Tehran.

CHINA URGES IRAN, US TO RETURN TO TALKS

Wang called on Tehran and Washington to "remain rational", exercise restraint and return to the Islamabad memorandum, an interim agreement reached in June. He also urged both sides to rebuild the negotiating framework and "engage in substantive consultations" on issues of mutual concern.

"The continued protracted conflict between the US and Iran is not in the common interests of the parties involved or the international community," Wang said.

He said China was prepared to play a constructive role in resolving international disputes and would continue working with Iran to safeguard what Beijing described as Tehran's legitimate rights and interests.

Araghchi, meanwhile, said Iran did not want the conflict to continue and remained open to a diplomatic solution while defending its sovereignty and security.

"Iran, while fully prepared to powerfully defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity and safeguard its security... against aggressors, welcomes diplomatic solutions that ensure the rights of the Iranian nation," he said, according to Iranian state media.

BEIJING PUSHES FOR HORMUZ REOPENING

The Strait of Hormuz was another major focus of the talks.

Wang urged all sides to take steps to restore navigation through the strategic waterway, which is critical to global energy shipments and supply chains.

"We urge all parties to take effective measures to reopen the Strait of Hormuz at an early date" to safeguard the stability of international energy transport and supply chains, Wang said.

China has repeatedly called for safe and normal shipping through the strait. Beijing is also a major buyer of Iranian oil, making the disruption of the waterway an economic concern for China as well as the wider global market.

Wang also warned against allowing the conflict to spread further south.

"China does not want to see regional tensions to spill over further into Yemen and the Red Sea," he said.

The warning comes as fighting involving Iran-aligned Houthis has intensified around Yemen, with Saudi Arabia accusing the group of attempting to target Mecca. The Houthis have denied responsibility for that attack.

CHINA-IRAN TALKS SET STAGE FOR XI-TRUMP SUMMIT

Araghchi's Beijing visit carries added significance as it comes just days before Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington on September 24.

Bessent said on Tuesday that he would meet Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng ahead of the summit and that Trump and Xi would continue discussions on Iran and China's financial links with Tehran. Washington has been seeking to restrict Iran's access to Western financial systems and pressure countries and companies that help sustain its economy.

The Xi-Trump meeting is expected to cover a much wider range of issues, including trade, technology and other economic disputes. But the Iran war and the disruption of energy shipments have added another major geopolitical issue to the agenda.

CHINA QUESTIONS MIDDLE EAST SECURITY SET-UP

Wang also used the meeting to argue that the conflict had exposed weaknesses in the region's existing security arrangements.

"The current situation once again demonstrates that the existing security architecture in the Middle East is inadequate and needs to be reformed and strengthened," he said.

China has sought to present itself as a supporter of regional dialogue rather than a direct military participant in the conflict. Beijing also maintains close economic ties with Tehran, particularly through energy trade.

Araghchi said Iran was ready to engage in dialogue with countries across the region to build good-neighbourly relations. He also welcomed Xi's proposals for promoting peace and common security in the Middle East and said Tehran was willing to deepen cooperation with Beijing within that framework.

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With inputs from agencies