Where does China stand in US-Iran conflict?

About this episode

This episode explores China's position in the US-Iran conflict and its potential role in defusing tensions.

Trade ties and tariff relief were supposed to be the key issues on the agenda during US President Donald Trump's visit to China this week. But with the Iran war unresolved and the Strait of Hormuz still blocked, the conflict is to take precedence. China is a major importer of Iranian oil and analysts say Mr Trump will try to push Beijing to decrease its purchases as a way of increasing pressure on Tehran. China’s relationship with Iran is significant. But Beijing also has important economic partnerships in Gulf states, which Iran has routinely attacked since the conflict began. China has been treading carefully throughout the war, not aligning itself explicitly with any one side. A week before Mr Trump’s visit, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was in Beijing, when Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for an end to the hostilities. But the meeting also came after China vetoed a UN Security Council resolution in April to reopen the strait. In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, host Nada AlTaher asks where China stands in the power struggle between Tehran and Washington, and whether Beijing could play a role in defusing the conflict. She speaks to Chuchu Zhang, deputy…

People in this episode

Host: Nada AlTaher

Guest: Chuchu Zhang

Topics covered

• US-Iran conflict
• China's foreign policy
• oil trade
• Middle East relations
• economic partnerships

Keywords

• China
• Iran
• US
• oil imports
• foreign policy
• Middle East
• trade relations

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Centre for Middle Eastern Studies, Fudan University

Places: China, Iran, United States, Strait of Hormuz

More episodes of Beyond the Headlines

• Are the US and Israel still fighting the same war? · June 12, 2026 · 26 min
• The limits of soft power: America’s war and its World Cup · June 5, 2026 · 23 min
• Replay: Who will fill the security vacuum in Gaza? · May 29, 2026 · 21 min
• More weapons, less action: What are the Houthis up to? · May 22, 2026 · 19 min
• Your move: What next in battle for Strait of Hormuz? · May 7, 2026 · 22 min
• Making sense of Palestine’s local elections · May 1, 2026 · 18 min