Araghchi in Beijing: How China could shape the direction of the US-Iran war

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing on Wednesday, as efforts to broker a peace deal between Tehran and Washington pick up pace amid the United States president’s announcement of a pause on attempts to forcibly open the Strait of Hormuz. The visit — and its timing — underscore what analysts say are China’s significant stakes in the US-Iran war, and the role Beijing could play in influencing the direction of the conflict. Recommended Stories list of 4 items end of list “We believe that a comprehensive ceasefire brooks no delay, a resumption of hostilities is inadvisable, and persisting with negotiations is particularly important,” Wang told Araghchi at the start of their meeting, according to footage released by Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV. The visit comes a week before Trump is due to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on May 14 and 15. Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged China to press Iran to ease its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas passes. The meeting comes against a backdrop of mounting tensions between Tehran and Washington over the strategic waterway. Iran moved to restrict shipping through the Strait of Hormuz after the war began, while the US imposed its own blockade on Iranian ports following the April ceasefire in an effort to force Tehran to accept Washington’s terms in negotiations. …