Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is scheduled to visit China on Tuesday ahead of the third round of nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington, the Iranian foreign ministry announced. The visit underscores ongoing diplomatic efforts to revive dialogue on Iran’s nuclear programme, with China having been a key signatory of the 2015 nuclear agreement known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
The announcement was made by ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei during a weekly press briefing on Monday. While the Chinese foreign ministry did not confirm the visit when contacted, it stated that China and Iran “maintain exchanges and interactions at different levels and in different fields.”
The 2015 JCPOA deal, intended to limit Iran’s nuclear activities in return for sanctions relief, was co-signed by the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China, Germany, and the European Union. Baqaei stressed that consultations with all original signatories must continue amid efforts to resolve the current diplomatic impasse.
Former US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the agreement in 2018, leading Iran to scale back its commitments under the deal. Since his return to office, Trump has pushed for renewed nuclear negotiations with Tehran, while simultaneously issuing warnings of possible military consequences.
The upcoming round of US-Iran talks, expected to take place on Saturday, will again be mediated by Oman. Araghchi will represent Iran, while Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to lead the American delegation.
Despite enduring heavy US sanctions, Iran has maintained strong economic ties with China, which remains its largest trading partner and primary purchaser of oil. According to Iranian media, nearly 92 percent of Iran’s oil exports are directed to China, often sold at discounted rates.
In 2021, Iran and China signed a 25-year strategic cooperation agreement covering various sectors including energy, infrastructure, security, and telecommunications, further cementing their bilateral relationship amid Western pressure on Tehran.
