China urges diplomatic solution to Iran nuclear issue ahead of talks

China has said it will urge Iran to avoid conflict as tensions over its nuclear program grow, ahead of a trilateral meeting with Russia and Iran on Friday, as Beijing ramps up efforts to be seen as a diplomatic power.

"In the current situation, we believe that all parties should maintain calm and restraint to avoid escalating the Iran nuclear situation, or even walking towards confrontation and conflict," said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning during a press briefing on Thursday.

The upcoming meeting will be chaired by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu and attended by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi.

While the agenda has not been disclosed, the talks are expected to focus on reviving diplomatic efforts concerning Tehran’s nuclear program, which has faced increased scrutiny following the US withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018 during President Donald Trump's first term.

Now in his second term, Trump has intensified his stance by reintroducing the "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran, aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear activities and regional influence through renewed sanctions and diplomatic isolation.

Russia, a key diplomatic actor and original signatory of the JCPOA, has expressed support for restoring the agreement. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov recently emphasized Moscow’s position. "We are in favor of restoring the original program from which the Americans dropped during the first Trump government," Lavrov said.

However, he also expressed concern over Washington's insistence on adding political conditions to any future deal, including restrictions on Iran's support for regional groups, which he warned "is not going to fly."

Beijing echoed similar sentiments. "China sincerely hopes that all parties can work together, continuously increase mutual trust and dispel misgivings, and turn the momentum of restarting dialogue and negotiation into reality at an early date," Mao said.

The Beijing talks follow a closed-door United Nations Security Council meeting in New York on Wednesday, where concerns were raised over Iran's expanding stockpile of uranium close to weapons-grade.

Beijing, a permanent member of the Security Council, cautioned against applying further pressure on Iran. "Applying maximum pressure on a particular country will not yield the desired outcome," China's UN envoy, Fu Cong, said.

China was one of the key mediators to help revive diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia in 2023. Russia has also offered to mediate between the US and Iran over the nuclear issue.