China backs US-Iran ceasefire and talks

China's foreign minister Wang Yi told his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi that Beijing supported maintaining the ceasefire and negotiation momentum between Tehran and Washington during a phone call on April 15, China's foreign ministry said in a readout.

Araghchi briefed Wang on the latest state of US-Iran talks and Tehran's next steps, saying Iran was willing to continue seeking "rational and realistic solutions" through peaceful negotiations.

Iran expressed appreciation for China's efforts to de-escalate the situation and said it hoped Beijing would play an active role in promoting peace and ending the war.

Wang said China continued to support Iran in safeguarding its sovereignty, security and national dignity. He cited a four-point proposal put forward by President Xi Jinping on maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East, describing it as China's contribution to resolving the crisis.

"The current situation has reached a critical stage of transition between war and peace, and a window for peace is opening," Wang said, according to the readout.

Wang said Iran's sovereign security and legitimate rights as a country bordering the Strait of Hormuz should be respected and protected.

At the same time, he said freedom of navigation and safety of international passage through the strait must be guaranteed, calling the restoration of normal transit a "unanimous demand" of the international community.

His comments were echoed by official Beijing spokesperson, Lin Jian on April 16 who posted on X, "The current situation has reached a critical stage between war and peace, and a window for peace is opening. China supports maintaining the momentum of ceasefire and peace talks. Iran’s sovereignty, security and legitimate rights as a country along the Strait of Hormuz should be respected and safeguarded, and the freedom and safety of navigation through the Strait should be guaranteed."

The calls came as Washington pressed ahead with a naval blockade of Iranian ports and as US President Donald Trump claimed Xi had agreed not to send weapons to Iran.

China's defence minister Admiral Dong Jun issued a warning on April 14 that Beijing intended to continue shipping through the Strait of Hormuz under its agreements with Tehran.

Wang said China was ready to continue promoting de-escalation and improved relations between regional states in line with Xi's four-point proposal.

Several commentators said the US was unlikely to stop Chinese military and merchant vessels through the Persian Gulf in comments made to British media, in a sign that the Trump administration may be softening its stance on the alleged blockade of the narrow waterway.