Iran’s Araghchi holds talks with China’s Wang Yi in Beijing | US-Israel war on Iran News
Iran’s Foreign Minister Visits China Ahead of Trump’s Beijing Summit
Published: May 6, 2026
BEIJING — Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for discussions with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, amid escalating tensions with the United States regarding the Strait of Hormuz.
This one-day visit comes just a week before U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on May 14 and 15. The meeting’s objective remains largely undisclosed, as China’s state-run Xinhua news agency confirmed only that discussions had begun.
This marks Araghchi’s first trip to China since the onset of the US-Israeli war on Iran. He and Wang have engaged in multiple telephone conversations since the conflict began.
In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed hope that China would emphasize to Iran the importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway is critical for global energy supplies and has been closed by Iran since the conflict erupted, leading to skyrocketing fuel and fertilizer prices and destabilizing the international economy.
Following a ceasefire in April, the U.S. imposed a blockade on Iranian ports to pressure Tehran into negotiating peace terms mediated by Pakistan, which include demands to halt nuclear enrichment.
Al Jazeera’s Katrina Yu reported that maintaining the ceasefire and reopening the Strait of Hormuz are key topics in the Araghchi-Wang meeting. She noted China’s scrutiny of both the U.S. naval blockade and Iran’s ongoing closure of the strait.
Wang is anticipated to discuss the extent of China’s support for Iran should it continue its strait blockade. Iran is likely seeking assurances from Beijing regarding support at the United Nations to counter further sanctions related to its actions in the waterway.
The meeting coincided with Trump’s announcement of a pause in military operations aimed at escorting ships out of the Strait of Hormuz. These operations have heightened tensions, with U.S. military claims of having sunk several Iranian vessels that attempted to interfere.
Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates reported missile and drone attacks from Iran, with one incident resulting in a fire at a significant oil refinery, claims that Tehran has denied.
Trump attributed the military pause to the requests of Pakistan and other nations, citing the success of U.S. operations and progress toward a comprehensive agreement with Iran.
Efforts toward a peace deal, led by Pakistan, have included direct talks in Islamabad, although these discussions concluded without an agreement. Key challenges include U.S. demands for the cessation of Iran’s nuclear activities and Iran’s insistence on maintaining control of the strategic waterway.
