China Hosts Iran, Russia In Talks Over Tehran's Nuclear Dispute With West

By RFE/RL March 14, 2025

Beijing urged "calm" and "restraint" as it prepared to host three-party talks with Tehran and Moscow in pursuit of a diplomatic solution to the Iran nuclear issue.

"In the current situation, we believe that all parties should maintain calm and restraint to avoid escalating the Iran nuclear situation, or even walking toward confrontation and conflict," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a news briefing on March 13.

The meeting, scheduled for March 14, will include Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi.

Tehran and Moscow have heightened ties in recent years as Iran's disputes with the United States have mounted. Both nations have had close ties to China.

This week, the three countries conducted naval drills in the Gulf of Oman near the strategic Strait of Hormuz in a show of force in the tense Middle East.

Attention on Iran's nuclear issues has intensified in recent days after US President Donald Trump said he had sent a letter to Tehran urging resumption of nuclear talks and warning of possible military action if Iran refused.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry on March 13 said it would conduct a "thorough assessment" before responding to Trump's letter.

"The letter was received last night and is currently being reviewed," spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei was quoted by the official IRNA news agency, adding: "A decision on how to respond will be made after a thorough assessment."

On March 10, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on X: "We will NOT negotiate under pressure and intimidation. We will NOT even consider it, no matter what the subject may be."

Trump, during his first term, quit a landmark deal that had imposed curbs on Iran's nuclear program in return for sanctions relief. Trump said the accord was not strong enough to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, and he accused Tehran of fomenting extremist violence in the region - a charge denied by Iran.

Following the US withdrawal, Tehran eventually began rolling back its nuclear commitments, while efforts to reach a new accord have failed. Tehran claims its nuclear program is strictly for peaceful purposes.

Beijing said the three-way talks will aim to "strengthen communication and coordination, to resume dialogue and negotiation at an early time."

"China sincerely hopes that all parties can work together, continuously increase mutual trust and dispel misgivings, and turn the momentum of restarting dialogue and negotiation into reality at an early date," Mao said.

With reporting by AFP and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/china-iran-russia- nuclear-trump-sanctions/33347041.html

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China Hosts Iran, Russia In Talks Over Tehran's Nuclear Dispute With West