US vs. Iran: China says it is working to resolve impasses

Beijing has been working to resolve the impasse between the United States and Iran, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters on Tuesday (26).

"Resolving old grievances is not a task that can be resolved overnight, but each step forward in negotiations brings a ray of hope for peace," Wang said after presiding over a high-level meeting of the United Nations Security Council in New York.

Wang stated that Beijing has maintained continuous communication with the main actors: the US, Iran and Pakistan, which has taken the lead in mediating the negotiations.

"We hope that the parties concerned will firmly adhere to the ceasefire and suspension of hostilities, continue to move towards each other, and restore peace in the Middle East as soon as possible," Wang added.

On Monday (25), Wang met with the head of the Pakistani Army, Field Marshal Asim Munir - the main interlocutor between Tehran and Washington - in Beijing.

The two discussed their efforts to restore peace in the Middle East, according to statements from their respective countries.

Relationship between Iran and China
China is a close diplomatic partner of Iran and the main buyer of its oil - and presented itself as a defender of peace throughout the war -, which was a central topic of discussion between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump during the American's visit to Beijing, between May 13 and 15.

Trump said Xi offered to help resolve the conflict between Washington and Tehran.

"President Xi would like to see a deal. He really would. And he offered. He said, 'If I can help in any way, I would like to help,'" the American told Sean Hannity, a journalist for the American broadcaster Fox News, in an interview recorded after the high-stakes negotiations in Beijing.

The American leader added: "He would like to see the Strait of Hormuz open."

Trump was widely expected to pressure China to pressure Iran into accepting a peace deal and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil transit route that remains largely closed amid the war.

Following the American president's statement, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Tehran would welcome any diplomatic initiative from China to reduce tension in the conflict with the United States.

"Any effort made by China to support diplomacy will be welcomed by the Islamic Republic of Iran," he told a press conference in New Delhi, India, during a visit to participate in the BRICS foreign ministers' meeting.

Doubts have been raised about what support, if any, Beijing would be willing to offer behind the scenes to help end the months-long US-Israeli conflict with Iran that has plunged the global economy into turmoil without a clear solution.

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Source: CNN