China and US Agree Iran Must Uphold Pledge Against Nuclear Weapons

How closer China-US ties, and more Xi-Trump summits, could work in Iran’s favour

China and the United States agreed that Iran must uphold its commitment against developing nuclear weapons after the presidents met in Washington in September.

Iran had been on the agenda during meetings between the two presidents in Beijing in May and Washington in September. The two summits showed that Tehran remains an issue in discussions between Iran’s key partner and its chief adversary, according to analysts.

A more specific position on Iran

There was no direct reference to Tehran in China’s statement after the May summit. After the September meeting, however, China issued a more specific statement on Iran.

The Chinese statement said that China and the US had agreed Iran must uphold its commitment against developing nuclear weapons. The difference between the two statements points to a clearer public position after the Washington meeting, while remaining within the broader framework of China-US diplomacy.

The two powers also agreed, in an eight-point consensus, that no country or organisation should impose tolls on international waterways, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.

Why further summits could matter

The possibility of more direct diplomacy between Beijing and Washington could create room for Iran, analysts said. Further head-of-state diplomacy could work in Iran’s favour, according to the analysis.

An Iranian researcher said better links between Beijing and Washington offer more opportunities than threats for Iran. That assessment is significant because China is described as Iran’s key partner, while the United States is its chief adversary. The emerging contact between the two powers therefore gives Iran an interest in how their discussions develop, particularly when Tehran is included in their agenda.

Source: South China Morning Post