Iran’s top diplomat to visit China on Tuesday

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi is set to travel to China on Tuesday, as stated by foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei on Monday, in advance of a third round of nuclear discussions between Tehran and Washington scheduled for Saturday in Oman.

During a visit to Moscow last week, Araqchi informed state television that Tehran consistently engages in detailed consultations with its allies, Russia and China, regarding the nuclear matter.

Long-standing adversaries Iran and the U.S. began talks earlier this month to seek restrictions on Tehran’s nuclear program, which Western nations claim is intended for the creation of nuclear arms.

Tehran has consistently rejected these allegations and, in return, demands the removal of U.S. sanctions reinstated by President Donald Trump during his initial term (2017-2021), after he exited a 2015 nuclear agreement involving Iran and major nations, including China and Russia.

Since assuming office in January, Trump has increased pressure on Iran and has, for the first time, implemented sanctions on Chinese “teapot” refineries—small, independent facilities—that process Iranian crude oil and have given a financial lifeline to Tehran’s struggling economy.

As per analytics company Kpler, Beijing represented at least 77% of Iran’s approximately 1.6 million bpd of crude oil exports in 2024. The official value of Iran’s crude exports to China is not revealed, but a Reuters estimate places the trade at almost $29 billion last year, factoring in a 20% discount to Brent crude prices to cover logistics expenses.