Abbas Araghchi Meets Wang Yi in Beijing as China Presses Iran To Reopen Strait of Hormuz

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met China’s top diplomat Wang Yi in Beijing on Wednesday as tensions with the United States mount over the Strait of Hormuz. Araghchi’s visit comes a week before US President Donald Trump visits Beijing for a summit with President Xi Jinping on May 14 and 15. During the meeting, Araghchi said China is a close friend of Iran and that bilateral “cooperation will even become stronger under current circumstances,” according to the Iranian Students’ News Agency. Wang called for Iran and the US to reopen the strait “as soon as possible,” and said China considers “a complete cessation of fighting must be achieved without delay.”

“Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has met his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, in Beijing as tensions with the United States mount over the Strait of Hormuz”

Al Jazeera

China’s foreign minister told Araghchi that achieving a lasting ceasefire was an “urgent priority,” and said Beijing was ready to help de-escalate tensions. The BBC reported Wang also emphasized safe passages through the Strait of Hormuz, describing the waterway as largely impassable after blockades imposed by both Iran and the US. In parallel, Al Jazeera quoted Araghchi saying, “We only accept a fair and comprehensive agreement,” in reference to talks between Iran and the US to end the US-Israeli war on Iran. Al Jazeera also reported that Wang called for reopening the strait and that the meeting was an opportunity for Iran to seek continued economic and diplomatic support ahead of Trump’s arrival.

The meeting unfolded as the Strait of Hormuz remained effectively blocked, with the BBC saying blockades by both Iran and the US left the strait largely impassable since the war began. The BBC also reported that China imported 1.38 million barrels of crude per day from Iran in 2025, “around 12% of China's total crude oil imports,” underscoring the stakes for energy flows. In the run-up to Trump’s May 14-15 summit with Xi, the BBC said Wang emphasized that the international community shared concern over restoring normal and secure navigation. For Iran, Al Jazeera reported that the foreign minister’s trip to Beijing was also aimed at securing continued economic and diplomatic support while seeking “a fair and comprehensive agreement” with the US.

“China’s top envoy meets with Iran’s in Beijing as Trump pauses US effort in the Strait President Donald Trump downplayed tensions with Iran Tuesday, calling the conflict a “skirmish” and claiming the U”

AP News