China urges Iran to choose talks over war as Donald Trump claims spark tensions

BEIJING: China’s top diplomat Wang Yi on Tuesday urged Iran to prioritise dialogue over conflict in a phone call with his counterpart Abbas Araghchi, amid escalating regional tensions and conflicting claims over possible negotiations.

The appeal came after Donald Trump said his administration was in contact with a “top person” within Iran’s leadership and extended by five days a deadline for potential strikes on Iranian power facilities.

Tehran swiftly rejected the claim, with parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf insisting that “no negotiations” were underway between US and Iran, accusing Trump of attempting to manipulate global oil and financial markets.

The ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran has intensified across the Middle East, creating a growing energy bottleneck in the Strait of Hormuz — a critical route that handles nearly a fifth of the world’s crude oil shipments.

According to China’s foreign ministry, Wang told Araghchi that “talking is always better” and urged all sides to seize opportunities for peace and begin negotiations as soon as possible.

While Beijing remains a key partner of Tehran, it has distanced itself from Iranian strikes on Gulf states hosting US bases and has consistently called for a ceasefire.

During the call, Araghchi assured that vessels could continue to pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz, except those linked to countries directly involved in the conflict. He reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to achieving a comprehensive resolution rather than a temporary ceasefire and thanked China for its humanitarian support.

The conversation was held at Iran’s request, highlighting Tehran’s diplomatic outreach as tensions persist. Meanwhile, Trump — who had planned a visit to Beijing this month — postponed the trip to manage the fallout from the deepening crisis and has urged China and other powers to help stabilise the vital shipping corridor.