China presses Pakistan to deepen Iran mediation ahead of Trump-Xi summit
Primary region China
Tags Diplomacy · Security · Energy
Regions China · Middle East
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar to intensify mediation efforts in the U.S.-Iran conflict, specifically calling for progress on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and restoring regional peace. The call came one day before Trump's arrival in Beijing. Pakistan had brokered an initial two-week ceasefire on April 8, followed by talks in Islamabad on April 11-12 that failed to produce a final agreement. Wang Yi praised Pakistan's 'constructive mediation role' and pledged China's continued support.
Strategic interpretation
China is using Pakistan as a diplomatic proxy to manage the Iran crisis without direct entanglement, allowing Beijing to present itself as a responsible mediator while preserving its strategic partnership with Tehran. By pressing Pakistan to deliver results before the Trump-Xi summit, China aims to offer Trump a diplomatic win on Iran that could be traded for concessions on trade or technology controls.