Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said he is bringing a message from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to Chinese leaders, Mehr reported.
Araqchi praised Beijing’s long-standing stance in support of Iran’s civilian nuclear program and said he would convey President Pezeshkian’s message to Chinese leaders.
He made the remarks upon his arrival in Beijing on Wednesday to meet with senior Chinese officials and discuss issues of mutual interest, including the ongoing proximity talks between Tehran and Washington.
Iran and the United States have held two rounds of talks brokered by Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, with a third round scheduled for Muscat.
“China and Russia are our two strategic partners and close friends who have stood by us in difficult times,” Araqchi told IRIB. “It is natural that we hold continuous and permanent consultations with them in various fields, especially now that indirect talks with the United States are underway.” The top Iranian diplomat also noted that he did the same during his visit to Russia last week. He praised Beijing’s long-standing stance in support of Iran’s civilian nuclear program, saying the Islamic Republic would continue its consultations with China as a UN Security Council member and Iran’s partner.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai had earlier said that Araqchi’s visit to Beijing would include meetings with senior Chinese officials. He hailed the growing “historical-civilizational” ties between the two sides over the past half-century, saying Tehran and Beijing were taking serious steps to ensure the mutual interests of the two nations.