On March 14, the vice foreign ministers of China, Russia and Iran convened in Beijing to discuss the Iran nuclear issue, afterward issuing a joint statement advocating an equitable, fair and peaceful solution and urging concerned parties to refrain from actions that could escalate tensions. The meeting took place amid continued turmoil in the Middle East near the beginning of Donald Trump's second term as U.S. president.The future of the nuclear issue and of U.S.-Iran relations are pivotal, not only for reshaping the Middle East's geopolitical landscape but also for the global power game. So why was Beijing chosen as the venue for this meeting? What message did the joint statement send?
First, the choice of Beijing reflected both trust in China and expectations for its role as mediator. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the nuclear issue was reached in July 2015 after years of dialogue and negotiation between the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, Germany and Iran.The JCPOA was a success for multilateralism and serves as a model for handling sensitive issues through dialogue and negotiation. It was subsequently endorsed in UN Security Council Resolution 2231. As a permanent member of the Security Council and a participant in the JCPOA negotiations, China is an important stakeholder in the agreement and shoulders responsibility for its implementation and survival.In addition, China in 2021 promoted the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, again demonstrating its strength as a mediator in global diplomacy. Both Iran, which is unwilling to negotiate directly with the United States, and Russia, which is seeking to break Western diplomatic sanctions, have turned to China. They trust and expect China to play a constructive mediating role. Through the Beijing meeting they hope to present their positions and appeals to the United States and the wider Western world.
Second, China, Russia and Iran voiced their opposition to the unilateral sanctions and “maximum pressure” imposed by the United States, and they called for a nuclear solution through political and diplomatic engagement. Their joint statement emphasized that the parties should abandon all sanctions and threats of force. This position undoubtedly aligns with the long-standing demand of Iran (and other countries that have suffered from sanctions). Thus, the meeting was dubbed the “Anti-Sanctions Alliance Summit” by some Western media.Iran, as a result of years of economic sanctions and heavy pressure from the United States, has encountered many problems and challenges in economic development in recent years. With an inflation rate as high as 68 percent in 2024, its people live under huge strain. Since taking office in July last year, reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian has prioritized the lifting the Washington's unilateral sanctions and those of the West generally as his main goals.
Finally, the three-party meeting reinforced the importance of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which requires Iran to commit to the peaceful use of nuclear technology and not develop nuclear weapons. If the three nations try to pressure the United States by announcing their opposition to unilateral sanctions and pressure, then their reaffirmation of the international nuclear non-proliferation system indicates that they truly seek to place controls on Iran's nuclear activities. It also sends a warning message to some major powers in the current international governance system that often call for the use of nuclear weapons to resolve international conflicts.The 2015 Iran nuclear agreement was based on Iran's halting uranium enrichment above 5 percent and ceasing the construction of the Arak heavy water reactor in exchange for the United States and the West agreeing not to impose new sanctions and to relax some existing ones. However, in 2018, the Trump administration withdrew from the deal and imposed new sanctions on Iran. Given that Washington was the first to violate the agreement, Tehran responded by exceeding the agreed uranium enrichment limits after 2019. Against this backdrop, the three-way meeting in Beijing stood out for its effort to clarify the historical context of the Iranian nuclear issue and present impartial, fair and equitable demands to all parties.
With its commitment to resolve the nuclear issue in an equitable, just and peaceful manner, China came up with a five-point proposal at the meeting. It suggested:
• resolving disputes through political and diplomatic means and opposing the use of force and sanctions;
• balancing rights and responsibilities, and coordinating nuclear non-proliferation goals with the peaceful use of nuclear energy;
• reaching a new consensus on the framework of the JCPOA agreement;
• promoting cooperation through dialogue, and resisting forced intervention from the UN Security Council; and
• upholding the principle of step-by-step equality and seeking consensus through consultation.
The trilateral meeting in Beijing should serve as a starting point for positive talks on the Iranian nuclear issue in 2025.
