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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday described his talks in China as “successful” and could have far-reaching impacts on the region’s “strategic balance.” The remarks come shortly after US President Donald Trump said the war with Iran may be nearing its end.
In a post on X, Araghchi described his "consultations in China with our partners" as "successful," adding that "Iran values the strategic partnership we have built over time."
"Today's decisions will decide the future strategic balance in the region, with immeasurable knock-on effects," the Iranian foreign minister said.
The remarks come against the backdrop of Araghchi's visit to Beijing on Wednesday, where he met his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi. It was the third meeting between the two top diplomats, following talks on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Kyrgyzstan and the BRICS summit in India.
Iran's state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) framed the talks as reflecting "China's principled position" against the continuation of the Iran war, "whose damaging consequences affect not only Iran, but all countries and nations of the region and the world."
Araghchi also described the "four principles for peace" outlined by Chinese President Xi Jinping as "key."
Xi set out the principles at the bloc's 18th summit in New Delhi last week, where BRICS leaders unanimously adopted the New Delhi Declaration, and in bilateral talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"Military pressure and unilateral actions can never be a solution to disputes," Xi said, urging dialogue and diplomacy.
The Chinese leader also called for peaceful coexistence among countries, respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity, adherence to international law, and the simultaneous pursuit of security and development.
Araghchi’s remarks also come shortly after US President Trump said on Wednesday that the war with Iran may be nearing its end.
“Hopefully we're toward the end of the war,” Trump told reporters in North Carolina. “Iran is very much wanting to make a deal. We'll see how that works out.”
Asked whether he had recently heard from senior Iranian officials, and whether contacts were direct or through intermediaries, the US commander-in-chief replied, “No, directly.”
Last week, Trump also predicted that the war with Iran “is going to end immediately after the [midterm] elections [in November] ... because they can't hold out any longer,” adding that the Iranian leadership was "desperate to try and affect the election.”
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