On Friday, March 14, 2025, senior officials from China, Russia, and Iran will convene in Beijing to engage in high-level discussions concerning Iran’s nuclear program. The meeting will be chaired by China’s Vice Foreign Minister, Ma Zhaoxu, and will include the deputy foreign ministers of Russia and Iran.
This trilateral meeting follows a recent closed-door session of the United Nations Security Council in New York, where concerns were raised about Iran’s expanding uranium enrichment activities nearing weapons-grade levels. The International Atomic Energy Agency has reported that Iran is accelerating its enrichment of uranium to up to 60% purity, approaching the 90% threshold required for weapons-grade material.
The backdrop to these discussions includes the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), an agreement between Iran and major world powers aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. The United States’ withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018 led Iran to scale back its commitments under the deal, resulting in heightened international concerns about its nuclear ambitions.
China has consistently expressed support for Iran in safeguarding its legitimate rights and has called for the resumption of nuclear talks. The upcoming meeting in Beijing underscores China’s proactive role in facilitating dialogue on this critical issue.
