China intends to hold a trilateral meeting with Russia and Iran in Beijing on 14 March on the “Iranian nuclear issue”.
According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu will chair the meeting and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi will also attend.
“The two sides will exchange views on the Iranian nuclear issue and other issues of mutual interest,” China’s diplomatic office said.
On February 4, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to resume a policy of “maximum economic pressure” on Iran to hinder oil exports and slow its nuclear programme. He instructed the Treasury Department to apply pressure through sanctions and enforcement mechanisms to individuals and entities that violate existing sanctions.
In early March, Bloomberg reported that Russia had agreed to help the Trump administration communicate with Iran on various issues, particularly Tehran’s nuclear programme and its support for regional anti-American sentiment.
A landmark agreement with world powers in 2015 limited Iran’s nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.
But Trump pulled the United States out of the agreement during his first term and renewed sanctions in 2018, forcing Tehran to accelerate uranium enrichment and limit international inspections of its nuclear facilities.