Finance
China Urges Peace Talks in Iran War
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 26, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 26, 2026
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China called on all parties in the Middle East war—including Iran and the U.S.—to seize opportunities and initiate genuine peace talks, reaffirming its support for diplomacy amid escalating regional tensions and disputed signals of negotiations.
China Calls for Peace Talks Between Iran and U.S. Amid Middle East Tensions
China's Diplomatic Efforts and Reactions to Middle East Tensions
China's Call for Peace Talks
BEIJING, March 26 (Reuters) - China on Thursday urged parties to the Middle East conflict to "create conditions for starting truly meaningful and sincere peace talks".
"The pressing priority is to actively promote peace talks, seize the opportunity of peace and promote the cessation of the war," Lin Jian, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, said at a regular briefing when asked if China was aware of any ongoing negotiations between Iran and the United States.
Signals of Negotiation Between Iran and the U.S.
Chinese Foreign Minister's Optimism
His remarks come after China's foreign minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday that he saw "a glimmer of hope for peace" in the wake of signals about negotiations between the U.S. and Iran.
Iran's Denial of Negotiations
Earlier in the week, Iran denied that it had engaged in negotiations with the U.S., after President Donald Trump delayed a threat to bomb Iran's power grid citing what he described as productive talks with unidentified Iranian officials.
Iran's foreign minister on Wednesday said the country was reviewing a U.S. proposal to end the war but had no intention of holding talks.
China's Position and Diplomatic Communications
China's Awareness of Negotiations
China's foreign ministry did not disclose if it was aware of any negotiations between Washington and Tehran, but Wang expressed cautious optimism in a phone call with his Egyptian counterpart on Wednesday.
Wang Yi's Statements on Peace Prospects
"The situation in the Middle East is changing rapidly, with both the U.S. and Iran releasing signals about negotiations, offering a glimmer of hope for peace," Wang said, according to a summary of the conversation released by his ministry.
"As long as talks begin, there is hope for peace," Wang added.
Calls for Seizing Peace Opportunities
In a separate call with Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on Tuesday, Wang urged all sides to "seize every opportunity and window for peace, and initiate the process for peace talks as soon as possible," the Chinese ministry said.
Reporting and Editorial Credits
(Reporting by Mei Mei Chu; Writing by Xiuhao Chen and Liz Lee; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Edwina Gibbs)
Key Takeaways
- •China’s Foreign Ministry urged the warring sides to create conditions for “truly meaningful and sincere peace talks”, signaling Beijing’s preference for dialogue over military escalation. (apnews.com)
- •Foreign Minister Wang Yi described a “glimmer of hope for peace” amid signs of U.S.–Iran communication, while Chinese spokesperson Lin Jian called for leveraging any window to advance talks. (apnews.com)
- •Iran officially denied engaging in peace negotiations, reviewing a U.S. ceasefire proposal but stating it had no intention of talks—underscoring the fragile and ambiguous diplomatic landscape. (apnews.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about China urges peace talks in Iran war
1What did China urge regarding the Middle East conflict?
China urged parties involved in the Middle East conflict to create conditions for meaningful and sincere peace talks.
2Has China confirmed ongoing negotiations between Iran and the United States?
China's foreign ministry did not disclose if it was aware of any ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
3What comments did China’s foreign minister make about peace prospects?
Wang Yi, China’s foreign minister, stated there was a glimmer of hope for peace due to signals about negotiations between the U.S. and Iran.
4What stance has Iran taken on holding talks with the U.S.?
Iran denied engaging in negotiations with the U.S. and stated it had no intention of holding talks.
5How has the situation in the Middle East been described by Chinese officials?
Chinese officials described the Middle East situation as rapidly changing, with both the U.S. and Iran releasing positive signals about possible negotiations.
