A report has emerged stating that China made a rare diplomatic intervention during the US-Iran conflict, nudging Tehran to agree to talks with Washington.
While Beijing's role was not decisive, Chinese President Xi Jinping appears to have gained valuable diplomatic capital with US President Donald Trump.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Trump has specifically highlighted China's role in bringing Iran to the table.
Chinese officials said Foreign Minister Wang Yi held 26 phone calls with counterparts to position Beijing as a mediator.
The plan proposed jointly by China and Pakistan on March 31 called for a ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Administration officials said the plan offered a diplomatic off-ramp for Iran, which counts China as both a security partner and a major oil customer.
China's diplomatic outreach extends beyond the Middle East, with Beijing pursuing a multi-front effort to demonstrate its value to Trump's broader foreign policy goals ahead of the planned Trump-Xi meeting on May 14–15.
