Analysts anticipate that Washington will increase pressure on Tehran in response to last week’s trilateral nuclear talks between China, Iran, and Russia – an expectation that aligns with the growing consensus in the U.S. against both Beijing, the host of the meeting, and Iran.
The discussions, which urged an end to “illegal sanctions” on Tehran, took place just days after Iran dismissed Donald Trump’s proposal to restart negotiations on its nuclear program.
Wang met with Iranian and Russian deputy foreign ministers on Friday, stressing China’s hope that “all parties will meet each other halfway and resume dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible.” He also urged the U.S. to “show political sincerity and return to the talks as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile, the U.S. and five other nations convened a closed-door Security Council meeting to discuss the matter, with Britain suggesting that sanctions could be reinstated if Iran expanded its nuclear program. According to China’s foreign ministry, Wang further expressed opposition to any “forced intervention” by the United Nations Security Council.
Despite facing resistance, China remains committed to pursuing multilateral negotiations on the nuclear issue. Experts believe Beijing will use these discussions to strengthen its role as a key mediator in the Middle East while expanding its regional influence.
During the March 14 talks in Beijing, the three nations reaffirmed their dedication to non-proliferation and jointly condemned “sanctions, pressure, or the threat of force.” Additionally, Wang proposed a five-point plan to address the Iranian nuclear issue, which emphasized adherence to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal. The U.S. abandoned this agreement under President Donald Trump during his first term.
The U.S. on Thursday issued new Iran-related sanctions, targeting entities including for the first time a Chinese “teapot,” or independent refinery, and vessels that supplied crude oil to such processing plants.
It was Washington’s fourth round of sanctions on Iran’s oil sales since President Donald Trump said in February he was re-imposing a “maximum pressure” campaign including efforts to drive down the country’s exports to zero. Trump aims to stop Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and funding militant groups.
