Iran-China Talks Ahead of Key Diplomatic Visit
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held talks with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, in Beijing on Wednesday. The meeting comes just a week before US President Donald Trump’s planned visit to China, where he is expected to meet President Xi Jinping.
Araghchi reportedly said: “Iran appreciates China’s firm stance and especially the condemnation of the United States and Israel… “China is a close friend of Iran and in the current circumstances, our cooperation will be even stronger. Iran will only accept a just and comprehensive agreement.”
Araghchi arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for diplomatic consultations, according to local media. He is expected to discuss bilateral ties with Wang Yi, as well as regional and international developments.
Rising Tensions Over Strait of Hormuz
On Tuesday night, Donald Trump announced a ‘pause’ in so-called ‘Project Freedom’ – to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz. On Monday, he warned that Iran would be ‘blown off the face of the earth’ if it attacked his vessels.
The US and Iran had conflicting accounts of attacks on shipping in the Strait. Washington claimed two vessels had passed through, which Iran strongly denied. Trump also claimed the US had ‘shot down’ seven ‘fast boats’ from Iran, while Tehran said two of those were civilian vessels, with five people killed.
Araghchi dubbed Trump’s ‘Project Freedom’ as ‘Project Deadlock’: “As talks are making progress with Pakistan’s gracious effort, the US should be wary of being dragged back into quagmire by ill-wishers.”
Around 2,000 ships are stuck in the Strait, with Iran blocking the key waterway to ‘unfriendly’ vessels – and the US blockading Iran’s ports too.
