Against a background of US President Donald Trump’s heightened threats to Iran, unmistakably contained in his recent letter to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, ostensibly offering dialogue, and the aggravated threat of a general and all out war in West Asia, an important meeting, at Deputy Foreign Minister level, between China, Russia and Iran, was held in Beijing on March 14.
It was chaired by Deputy Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu of the People’s Republic of China, with participation of Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich of the Russian Federation and Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The three countries engaged in in-depth discussions on the latest state of play with regard to the Iranian nuclear issue and the question of sanctions lifting and issued a joint statement.
The statement emphasised the necessity of terminating all unlawful unilateral sanctions and reiterated that political and diplomatic engagement and dialogue based on the principle of mutual respect remain the only viable and practical option. Relevant parties, they noted, should be committed to addressing the root cause of the current situation and abandoning sanction, pressure, or threat of force.
They also reiterated the importance of upholding the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as the cornerstone of the international non-proliferation regime. China and Russia welcomed Iran’s reiteration that its nuclear programme is exclusively for peaceful purposes and not for development of nuclear weapons.
Iran and Russia commended China for its constructive role and for hosting the Beijing meeting. The three countries agreed to continue their close consultation and cooperation in the future. They also exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest and agreed to maintain and strengthen their coordination in international organisations and multilateral arrangements such as BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
Also on March 14, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with the Deputy Foreign Ministers of Russia and Iran.
Wang Yi said that over the past year or so, tensions in the Middle East have continued to escalate, with the regional security situation deteriorating significantly and hotspot issues emerging one after another. He added that there are enough issues in the Middle East, and all parties should focus on addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, an unresolved historical injustice lingering since World War II, rather than creating new tensions or even crises.
The Chinese Foreign Minister put forward a five-point proposal on the Iranian nuclear issue, the first of which is to stay committed to peaceful settlement of disputes through political and diplomatic means and to oppose the use of force and illegal sanctions.
Meanwhile, in the days immediately before the meeting, China, Russia and Iran held joint naval drills in the Gulf of Oman. It was the fifth year for the three countries to hold such joint drills, which begun near the Iranian port of Chabahar.
The Chinese newspaper Global Times reported that the exercises featured three phases – an assembly and preparation phase, a maritime drill phase and a harbour summary phase.
The maritime drill phase featured such training courses as maritime target strikes, VBSS (visit, board, search and seizure), damage control, as well as joint search and rescue operations. Exercises included live-fire shooting of heavy machine guns against maritime targets, night live-fire shooting practices, light communication practices, rescuing simulated hijacked commercial ships and a fleet review.
Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military affairs expert, told Global Times that the exercises had boosted the three navies’ maritime combat capabilities through maritime strike and damage control trainings. Routine joint exercises among the three sides continuously enhance their navies’ interoperability, he added, and the three sides’ joint command and control as well as joint strike capabilities were displayed through the drill courses.
Qatar based Al Jazeera noted that the exercises had got underway at a time when Iran accused the US of bullying. It noted that the Russian Ministry of Defence reported that “the ships’ crews conducted daytime and nighttime fire from large-calibre machine guns and small arms at targets simulating unmanned boats and unmanned aerial vehicles of a mock enemy.”
Al Jazeera further noted that Iran’s Press TV reported that naval groups from Azerbaijan, South Africa, Oman, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Qatar, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and Sri Lanka also observed the drills.
The following articles were originally published on the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Joint Statement of the Beijing Meeting between China, Russia and Iran
March 14 (MFA) — The Beijing Meeting between China, Russia and Iran was successfully held on March 14, 2025. The Beijing Meeting was chaired by Deputy Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu of the People’s Republic of China, with participation of Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich of the Russian Federation and Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
China, Russia and Iran engaged in in-depth discussions on the latest state of play with regard to nuclear issue and sanctions lifting. The three countries emphasized on the necessity of terminating all unlawful unilateral sanctions.
The three countries reiterated that political and diplomatic engagement and dialogue based on the principle of mutual respect remains the only viable and practical option in this regard.
The three countries emphasized that relevant parties should be committed to addressing the root cause of the current situation and abandoning sanction, pressure, or threat of force.
The three countries stressed the importance of the UNSC Resolution 2231, including its timeframes, and called for relevant parties to refrain from any action that may escalate the situation, so as to create a favourable atmosphere and conditions for diplomatic efforts.
The three countries reiterated the importance of upholding the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as the cornerstone of international non-proliferation regime. China and Russia welcomed Iran’s reiteration that its nuclear programme is exclusively for peaceful purposes and not for development of nuclear weapons, and also welcomed Iran’s commitment to full compliance with its obligations under the NPT and Comprehensive Safeguard Agreement, supported Iran’s policy to continue cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and stressed the need to fully respect Iran’s right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy as a State Party to the NPT. The three countries stressed the necessity for all States to refrain from any action that undermines the technical, objective and impartial work of the IAEA.
Iran and Russia commended China for its constructive role and hosting the Beijing meeting. The three countries agreed to continue their close consultation and cooperation in the future.
The three countries also exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest, and agreed to maintain and strengthen their coordination in international organizations and multilateral arrangements such as BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Wang Yi Meets with Foreign Representatives of the Beijing Meeting Between China, Russia and Iran on the Iranian Nuclear Issue
March 15 (MFA) — On March 14, 2025, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met in Beijing with Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich of the Russian Federation and Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi of the Islamic Republic of Iran who attended the Beijing meeting between China, Russia and Iran on the Iranian nuclear issue.
Wang Yi said that over the past year or so, tensions in the Middle East have continued to escalate, with the regional security situation deteriorating significantly and hotspot issues emerging one after another. As a responsible major country, China remains committed to the political settlement of regional hotspots, the maintenance of peace and stability in the Middle East, and the support of unity and self-reliance among regional countries. There are enough issues in the Middle East, and all parties should focus on addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, an unresolved historical injustice lingering since World War II, rather than creating new tensions or even crises.
Wang Yi said that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is a significant achievement in addressing sensitive issues through dialogue and negotiation. It represents a successful practice of pursuing multilateralism and has played a unique and important role in maintaining regional stability and upholding the international nuclear non-proliferation regime. Regrettably, the implementation of the JCPOA was disrupted due to the U.S. unilateral withdrawal. The situation has now reached another critical juncture. Wang Yi emphasized the need to gain time for peace by resolving disputes through political and diplomatic means, while opposing the use of force and illegal sanctions. It is essential to uphold international rules, safeguard the integrity of the nuclear non-proliferation regime, appreciate Iran’s commitment to not developing nuclear weapons, and respect its right to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Efforts should be made to expand consensus and seek a reasonable solution through negotiations that accommodates the legitimate concerns of all parties.
Wang Yi said that the vice foreign ministers of the three countries successfully held a meeting in Beijing on the Iranian nuclear issue and issued a joint statement, marking an important step in the right direction. China will also strengthen communication with other parties involved in the Iranian nuclear issue, encourage them to demonstrate political sincerity and return to talks at an early date. Peace remains within reach and should not be easily abandoned. Unilateral sanctions will only escalate tensions, while dialogue and negotiation remain the only right way forward.
Wang Yi proposed China’s five points on the proper settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue. First, stay committed to peaceful settlement of disputes through political and diplomatic means, and oppose the use of force and illegal sanctions. Second, stay committed to balancing rights and responsibilities, and take a holistic approach to the goals of nuclear nonproliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Third, stay committed to the framework of the JCPOA as the basis for new consensus and resume dialogue and negotiation as early as possible. Fourth, stay committed to promoting cooperation through dialogue, and oppose pressing for intervention by the U.N. Security Council (UNSC). Initiating the snapback mechanism must be handled with caution. Fifth, stay committed to a step-by-step and reciprocal approach, and seek consensus through consultation. As a permanent member of the UNSC and a party to the JCPOA, China will stay in communication and coordination with all relevant parties, actively promote talks for peace, and play a constructive role in realizing early resumption of talks.
Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich and Kazem Gharibabadi expressed gratitude to China for hosting the Beijing meeting, highly commended China’s constructive role, and spoke positively of the outcomes of the meeting. They expressed their willingness to maintain dialogue and cooperation while seeking a political and diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue. Russia and Iran are willing to maintain and strengthen communication and coordination with China within multilateral frameworks such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
China’s Five-Point Proposition on the Iranian Nuclear Issue
March 14 (MFA) — On 14 March 2025, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich of the Russian Federation and Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi of the Islamic Republic of Iran who attended the Beijing Meeting Between China, Russia and Iran, and proposed the following five points on the proper settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue.
First, stay committed to peaceful settlement of disputes through political and diplomatic means, and oppose the use of force and illegal sanctions. All parties should uphold the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, work actively to create conditions for the resumption of dialogue and negotiation, and refrain from actions that might escalate the situation.
Second, stay committed to balancing rights and responsibilities, and take a holistic approach to the goals of nuclear nonproliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Iran should continue honoring its commitment to not developing nuclear weapons, and all other parties should fully respect Iran’s right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy as a State Party to the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
Third, stay committed to the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as the basis for new consensus. China hopes that all parties will work toward the same direction and resume dialogue and negotiation as early as possible. The United States should demonstrate political sincerity and return to talks at an early date.
Fourth, stay committed to promoting cooperation through dialogue, and oppose pressing for intervention by the U.N. Security Council (UNSC). Under the current situation, hasty intervention by the UNSC will not help build confidence or bridge differences among the relevant parties. Initiating the snapback mechanism would undo years of diplomatic efforts, and must be handled with caution.
Fifth, stay committed to a step-by-step and reciprocal approach, and seek consensus through consultation. History has proven that acting from a position of strength would not lead to the key to resolving difficult issues. Upholding the principle of mutual respect is the only viable path to finding the greatest common ground that accommodates the legitimate concerns of all parties and reaching a solution that meets the expectation of the international community.
As a permanent member of the UNSC and a party to the JCPOA, China will stay in communication and coordination with all relevant parties, actively promote talks for peace, and play a constructive role in realizing early resumption of talks.
