China has backed Iran in nuclear talks, calling on Western sanctions to end and urging an end to “threat of force” from the West. Beijing sought to position itself as a key player in negotiations with Tehran over its nuclear program, following President Trump’s call for talks with Iran.
The Chinese government said that all parties should “abandon sanctions, pressure and threats of force” after talks with Russia and Iran on Thursday. The statement appeared to be a reference to recent overtures made by Mr. Trump toward Iran.
China and Russia joined Iran in urging an end to Western sanctions, a shift from their stance 10 years ago. In 2015, they insisted on reaching a deal with Iran before ending sanctions. Russia even took some of Iran’s nuclear fuel stockpile as part of that arrangement.
The US is pursuing maximum pressure with a threat of military action, while China and Russia are taking a more cooperative approach. This divide may give Iran more diplomatic room to maneuver.
The Iranian program is concerning due to the production of potential nuclear weapons material enriched to 60% purity. Experts believe Iran may have enough for six nuclear weapons after a week or so to convert it to 90% purity.
Russia and China did not address Iran’s installation of advanced centrifuges, which will increase its stockpile of enriched material. The Iranian government said it would begin operating the centrifuges in late November.
China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, released a five-point plan for addressing the issue, urging an end to sanctions on Iran while calling for Iran to abide by its commitment not to develop nuclear weapons.
Beijing aims to show solidarity with Iran and demonstrate its commitment to the international agreement. The Chinese government warned that “even though the United States exerts extreme pressure, as long as Iran does not give up on its relevant commitments, it will still have friends.”
Iran’s supreme leader has expressed skepticism about negotiating with the US, while China’s involvement may help alleviate some of Tehran’s concerns. However, Iranians are wary of Chinese and Russian involvement in negotiations, fearing they might be “sold out” by Moscow as part of a broader US-Russia accord.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/world/asia/china-iran-trump-russia.html