China has called on both Iran and the United States to act with rationality and restraint, urging them to return to the Islamabad memorandum and engage in meaningful consultations. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi conveyed this message during a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Beijing on Wednesday.

Wang emphasized the importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz promptly to ensure the stability of international energy transport and supply chains. He expressed concern over the potential for regional tensions to escalate and spill over into Yemen and the Red Sea, highlighting the need for effective measures to prevent such developments.

Addressing the necessity for renewed dialogue, Wang encouraged Tehran and Washington to rebuild the negotiation framework based on the consensus achieved so far. This diplomatic exchange took place just a week before a highly anticipated meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump in Washington.

Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that discussions between Trump and Xi would continue, focusing on Iran and China‘s financial connections with Tehran, which the US aims to exclude from Western financial systems.

As the primary purchaser of Iranian oil, China has consistently stressed the importance of restoring safe and normal navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. However, it has largely avoided directly confronting Tehran’s threats to shipping in the region.

Wang also remarked that the current situation highlights the inadequacy of the existing Middle East security architecture, calling for its reform and strengthening. He reaffirmed China‘s readiness to promote peace, fairness, and justice in the region, noting that its policy toward Iran remains steady and consistent.