Whether China played a role in persuading Tehran to agree to ceasefire talks—responding to such a question from Agence France-Presse (AFP), U.S. President Donald Trump said, “From what I’ve heard, yes.” Ending this conflict also holds a strategic urgency for Beijing, as Trump is planning a visit to China in mid-May to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping; the trip had originally been scheduled for late March but was postponed due to the ongoing war. According to a source cited by Associated Press, Beijing has played a quiet yet highly effective and influential role, coordinating with mediating countries such as Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt to encourage Tehran to move toward peace. Sources further stated that Chinese officials maintained continuous and close communication with Iranian counterparts throughout every stage of the negotiations. Although China has not made any official public comment on its involvement, one official indicated that Beijing has been attempting to leverage its influence over Iran through these intermediary nations. This effort is seen as part of China’s broader push to play a more prominent role in global politics. So far, China’s Foreign Ministry has not issued any formal statement, but the Chinese embassy in Washington previously stated that Beijing has been “working tirelessly for peace” since the conflict began. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said, “All parties must show sincerity and bring this war to a swift end—one that should never have started in the first place,” adding that China is “deeply concerned” about the impact of the conflict on the global economy and energy security. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, China, alongside Russia, vetoed a United Nations resolution that called for collective efforts to ensure the safety of commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. During the veto against the resolution concerning Iran, China’s representative to the UN, Fu Cong, argued that when the United States itself poses a threat to the existence of a civilization, adopting such a resolution would send the wrong message.
China persuaded Iran to accept a ceasefire at the last minute!
