China Announces Meeting with Russia and Iran on the Latter’s Nuclear Programme, as UNSC Prepares to Discuss and Trump’s Letter Heads to Tehran
China has announced plans to convene talks with Russia and Iran amid growing pressure from the United States on Tehran to agree to a new deal regarding its nuclear programme.
Beijing revealed on Wednesday that it will host officials from Russia and Iran later this week to address the issue. This trilateral meeting follows a closed-door session of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), initiated by Western nations, to discuss Iran’s nuclear activities.
The heightened focus on Iran’s nuclear programme comes as the U.S. intensifies efforts to push Tehran into an agreement that would prevent it from pursuing nuclear weapons. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the meeting on the “nuclear issue” will take place in Beijing on Friday, with Iran and Russia expected to send their deputy foreign ministers.
A spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that the discussions will center on “developments related to the nuclear issue and the lifting of sanctions.”
Relations between Iran and Russia have strengthened significantly since the start of the Ukraine war in 2022, culminating in a strategic cooperation treaty signed in January. Both nations have also maintained robust ties with China.
Last week, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov reportedly discussed international efforts to address Iran’s nuclear programme with Iran’s ambassador, Kazem Jalali. This followed reports that Russia had agreed to assist the Trump administration in communicating with Tehran.
Trump’s Letter to Tehran
Iran has consistently denied any intention to develop nuclear weapons, but Western countries remain deeply concerned. During his first term, former U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a landmark deal between Iran and major Western powers that imposed strict limits on Tehran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. Instead, Trump launched a “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran.
Since beginning his second term in January, Trump has indicated a willingness to negotiate a new deal with Tehran, though such an agreement would require support from Beijing and Moscow. However, he has also reimposed aggressive sanctions and openly threatened military action, which has sparked anger in Iran.
Iran has officially ruled out direct talks as long as sanctions remain in place. President Masoud Pezeshkian declared on Tuesday that his country “will not bow in humiliation to anyone.”
Last Friday, Trump revealed he had sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urging negotiations while warning of potential military action. On Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Tehran expects a representative from an Arab country to deliver the letter.
The semi-official ISNA news agency reported that Anwar Mohammed Gargash, a diplomatic advisor from the United Arab Emirates, is traveling to Iran to meet Araghchi. However, the report did not explicitly link the visit to the letter.
UNSC to Address Iran’s Uranium Enrichment
The meeting in China will follow a closed-door UNSC session in New York on Wednesday, where members discussed Iran’s increasing uranium stockpiles. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has warned that Iran is "dramatically" accelerating the enrichment of uranium to 60 percent purity, bringing it closer to the weapons-grade level of 90 percent.
The UNSC meeting was requested by France, Greece, Panama, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States, urging Iran to fulfill its obligation to provide transparency about its nuclear programme.
The 2015 JCPOA, signed by Iran, the UK, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the U.S., lifted sanctions on Tehran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear activities. However, after the U.S. withdrew from the agreement in 2018, Iran began scaling back its commitments.
Despite efforts by the subsequent Biden administration and European nations to revive the deal, these attempts faltered before Trump’s return to office.
For the latest updates and more news, visit ZTC News and Z News Today.