Iran’s Foreign Minister Calls 2025 a ‘Golden Year’ for Tehran-Beijing Relations
Tehran, The Gulf Observer: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has declared that 2025 will be “a golden year” for strengthening strategic relations between Iran and China, citing a series of planned high-level visits and international summits aimed at deepening cooperation across multiple sectors.
Speaking following a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, in Beijing, Araqchi emphasized that the bilateral discussions were comprehensive and addressed a wide spectrum of issues, from political and economic collaboration to international developments.
In an interview with the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), Araqchi described his discussions with Wang as “lengthy but highly significant,” highlighting that the talks covered nearly all aspects of Iran-China relations. He stated that both sides explored the scope of future cooperation, reaffirming their mutual commitment to expanding ties.
Araqchi praised China’s “constructive role” in the international negotiations that led to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and voiced optimism about Beijing’s continued support as Iran engages in ongoing indirect negotiations with the United States. He called China “a friendly country and a problem solver” and welcomed its balanced approach to regional and international diplomacy.
The foreign minister confirmed that the next round of indirect talks between Tehran and Washington would take place in Oman on Saturday. He noted that while the indirect format has not created obstacles thus far, conflicting messages from U.S. officials in the media have complicated the negotiation atmosphere. Nevertheless, he reiterated that Iran remains “cautiously optimistic.”
Shared Stance Against Unilateralism
Araqchi also revealed that he and Wang discussed shared concerns over U.S. global policies, particularly its imposition of unilateral tariffs and hegemonic practices. He said China’s resistance to such measures aligns with Iran’s own stance against external pressure and bullying.
“China has provided detailed insights into how it has stood firm against unjust tariff policies,” Araqchi noted. “We both agree that confronting hegemonic behavior is a shared priority for our countries.”
Presidential Visit and Regional Engagement
The meeting also touched upon President Masoud Pezeshkian’s upcoming visit to China and his participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit scheduled for September. Araqchi emphasized that Pezeshkian’s trip will include both a bilateral component and multilateral engagements, underscoring the deepening ties between the two nations.
“These interactions, alongside other planned summits and regular diplomatic engagements, make 2025 a golden year for Iran-China relations,” Araqchi concluded.
The visit to Beijing marks another step in Iran’s broader diplomatic outreach under President Pezeshkian’s administration, with a focus on reinforcing strategic partnerships across Asia and promoting multilateralism in global affairs.
