China will convene a high-level meeting on March 14 in Beijing to address the Iranian nuclear issue, with Russia and Iran participating. Both nations will send their deputy foreign ministers to the talks, which will be chaired by China’s Vice-Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, according to a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry.
The meeting comes as ties between Iran and Russia have strengthened since the Ukraine war began in 2022, culminating in a strategic cooperation treaty signed in January. Both countries maintain strong relations with China.
The discussions will follow a closed-door United Nations Security Council meeting in New York on the same day, focusing on Iran’s expanding uranium stockpiles, which are nearing weapons-grade levels. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has raised alarms over Iran’s accelerated uranium enrichment to 60% purity, approaching the 90% threshold required for nuclear weapons.
Iran has consistently denied intentions to develop nuclear weapons. However, the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which imposed restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief, has been in disarray since the United States withdrew from the agreement in 2018 under President Donald Trump. Iran subsequently began scaling back its nuclear commitments.
China has expressed support for Iran’s legitimate rights and called for the resumption of nuclear talks. The upcoming meeting is expected to provide a platform for the three nations to exchange views on the nuclear issue and other matters of mutual interest.