Senior diplomats from China, Russia, and Iran convened on Friday to discuss Tehran’s nuclear programme, Chinese state media reported, as efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal remain stalled.
According to China’s state broadcaster CCTV, the meeting saw the exchange of views on the Iran nuclear issue and "other matters of common concern."
However, further details about the discussions were not disclosed.
The talks were attended by China’s Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi.
The meeting comes amid growing international uncertainty over the future of Iran’s nuclear ambitions following the collapse of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
The landmark agreement, signed in 2015, placed significant curbs on Tehran’s nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. However, former US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the pact in 2018, prompting Iran to gradually roll back its commitments. Subsequent efforts to revive the deal have struggled to gain momentum.
China has reiterated its call for renewed diplomatic engagement on the matter. Beijing stated that the latest trilateral discussions aimed to “strengthen communication and coordination to resume dialogue and negotiation at an early time.”
Russia and China have both maintained strong ties with Tehran, frequently criticising US sanctions and advocating for a diplomatic resolution to the nuclear standoff. However, with negotiations stalled and regional tensions simmering, the path forward remains uncertain.
