Xi Jinping and Donald Trump to discuss Iran conflict

Ahead of a critical meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Beijing, highlighting China's diplomatic influence over Tehran. The ongoing conflict in Iran is expected to be a primary agenda item during the Trump-Xi talks.

China has maintained a consistent stance throughout the seven-month conflict, condemning military actions by the U.S. and Israel and opposing Washington's sanctions. Beijing has called for an end to the hostilities and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. While China seeks to avoid escalating tensions with the U.S., experts suggest it will not undermine Iran's fundamental interests.

Economically, China has mitigated the impact of the war through large petroleum reserves and energy diversification. Although China imports over 70% of its oil, Iranian crude accounted for approximately 12% of its crude oil imports last year. While China has compensated for some supply disruptions by sourcing oil from Russia and Brazil, natural gas supply remains more difficult to diversify. Analysts note that while China's 1.4 billion barrel reserve can cover current Middle Eastern imports for roughly 254 days, a prolonged conflict could strain these strategic resources.