China, Iran and Russia called for diplomacy over "pressure and threats" and an end to "all illegal unilateral sanctions" following talks on Tehran's nuclear program on Friday in Beijing, Chinese state media said. The meeting, attended by the three countries' deputy foreign ministers, comes as Beijing aims to position itself as a power broker on the urgent international security issue, just days after US President Donald Trump said there were two ways to handle Iran: a deal or "militarily." "The relevant parties should be committed to eliminating the root causes of the current situation and abandon sanctions pressure and threats of force," China's Executive Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu said Friday, according to Chinese state media. Countries face pressure to find diplomatic solutions to manage Iran's nuclear program – or trigger a return of United Nations sanctions – as a key deadline from a 2015 Iran nuclear deal looms. Chinese officials have repeatedly voiced opposition to US sanctions on Iran and criticized the Trump administration's "maximum pressure" campaign to deter the Middle Eastern country from developing nuclear weapons, launched after the first Trump administration withdrew Washington from the 2015 deal. Following the meeting between Ma, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi in Beijing Friday, the three nations called on relevant parties "to avoid actions that escalate the situation and jointly create a favorable atmosphere and conditions for diplomatic efforts," according to a joint statement released by Chinese state media. There is an increasing sense of urgency around finding a diplomatic path to rein in Iran's nuclear program amid conflict in the Middle East. The UN nuclear watchdog warns that Iran has rapidly expanded its stock of what is considered near-bomb-grade uranium. Iran denies it wants a nuclear bomb and insists that its nuclear energy program is "entirely peaceful." Trump is pushing for a new deal, while European powers have held multiple rounds of talks with Tehran in recent months on the issue. Observers say the diplomatic push in Beijing fits with China's broader aim to position itself as an alternative global leader to the US – a goal Chinese leaders see more opportunity to achieve as Trump shakes up foreign policy with his "America First" agenda. "China is increasingly motivated to deepen its involvement (in the Iran nuclear issue) to safeguard its interests, expand its regional influence and reinforce its image as a responsible global power," said Tong Zhao, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace think tank in Washington. By having both Russia and Iran in the room, China "may also aim to highlight the significance of non-Western approaches to resolving global challenges," he added. China has long been an advocate for the 2015 nuclear deal – or Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The agreement, originally negotiated between all five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Tehran, restricts Iran's nuclear program. Beijing has criticized the US withdrawal from the pact, while opposing American sanctions on Iran. Tehran moved away from its nuclear-related commitments following the US withdrawal. Under the 2015 deal, countries have until October to trigger a so-called "snapback" of international sanctions on Iran that were lifted under the JCPOA. "We still hope that we can seize the limited time we have before the termination date in October this year, in order to have a deal, a new deal so that the JCPOA can be maintained," China's UN Ambassador Fu Cong told reporters ahead of a special UN Security Council meeting on Iran's nuclear program on Wednesday. Since coming to office, Trump has restored his "maximum pressure" campaign, calling for the US Treasury to impose sanctions on Iran and ramp up their enforcement. Last week, the US president told Fox News he had written to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, adding: "there are two ways Iran can be handled: militarily, or you make a deal. I would prefer to make a deal, because I'm not looking to hurt Iran." But Iran has signaled in recent days it has no interest in speaking to Trump, with Khamenei criticizing efforts to negotiate from "bully states." It's unclear what form a potential new agreement would take – or how it would be brokered. But not reaching a deal could lead to escalation of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East that's seen Israel and Iran exchange direct strikes or could see Tehran shift its position on nuclear weapons, observers say. "Effectively, everyone's competing to solve this issue," said Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa program at the London-based Chatham House think tank. "In the climate of several parallel efforts, this was an opportunity for Russia and China to align and try to put forward their version of what a deal might look like." Both Beijing and Moscow are united in "not wanting to see Iran weaponize its nuclear program and trying to diplomatically look for a solution," but may want a narrower deal focused around Tehran's nuclear program, while Europe and perhaps the United States would like a broader agreement, according to Vakil. During the talks Friday, all three countries "reiterated the importance of maintaining the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons," according to the Chinese readout, which also said that China and Russia "welcome Iran's reaffirmation of the peaceful nature of its nuclear program." The talks may be a boon for Tehran, observers say, pointing to how Iran's leaders see China and Russia as potential allies in such discussions. Tehran and Moscow have heightened cooperation in recent years as Iranian drones help Russia wage war in Ukraine. China remains a key economic and diplomatic backer for Iran, but also looks to balance its relationship with Tehran with growing ties to partners like Saudi Arabia. Last week, Russia, China and Iran held what Chinese state media said was their fifth joint naval drill since 2019. "For Iran, (the meeting in China) is a symbolic opportunity. It can continue to show its alignment with Russia and China ... (and) continue to message that it seeks engagement," Vakil said. A show of the trio's alignment may also benefit Beijing at a time when the Trump administration seeks to undercut Beijing and Moscow's close ties and push back against what they view as an emerging "axis" between China, Russia, Iran and North Korea. Russia has also offered to participate in nuclear talks between the US and Iran, a Kremlin spokesperson said, as Moscow-Washington ties warm under Trump. "The future policy directions of Russia and Iran will significantly influence China's strategic options in the Middle East and beyond," said Carnegie Endowments's Zhao, pointing to this as one reason for Beijing to enhance its communication with Moscow and Tehran on such issues. "Such coordination also signals solidarity against potential US efforts to sow division among them," he added. Beijing has much at stake in the Middle East. China relies on the region for energy and has worked to deepen its strategic ties there. China is also likely warily eying the potential that its own firms' commercial ties to Iran could become entangled in Trump's pressure tactics in Iran if no deal is reached, observers say. The meeting in Beijing, however, "is not an indication that China is interested in giving Russia and Iran a free ride here or allowing them to continue to subvert proliferation norms," said Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, founder of the Bourse & Bazaar Foundation think tank. "What this reflects is China's serious concerns that this crisis could accelerate in the Middle East if the Iran nuclear program is not dealt with through negotiations," he said. Still, there are limits to Beijing's capacity to be a broker on this issue even as it looks to amplify its role. It's a comparatively inexperienced player in a region where the US has long been the dominant power, and despite its economic links to Tehran, observers say it has little sway over the country's policy. "The Russians and Iranians understand that this is a relatively new role that China is taking as a mediator for these larger international disputes. There's a lot of realism about the extent to which China can actually be the architect of these negotiations," said Batmanghelidj. But they're both "very happy to participate in the spectacle of China emerging as this new player," he said. — CNN
