China Intensifies Middle East Diplomacy with High-Level Meetings in Iran and Oman

China is bolstering its diplomatic engagement in the Middle East, following a period of reduced activity. This renewed push includes meetings with a senior Iranian security official and a state visit from Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Ali Bagheri Kani, deputy secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, in Beijing. Wang emphasized that dialogue and negotiation are the "only viable path forward" amidst ongoing regional conflicts that risk further escalation. He also reiterated China's commitment to supporting Iran's sovereignty and security, aligning with Beijing's stance that the US and Israel initiated the current conflict.

Al Jazeera's Katrina Yu, reporting from Beijing, noted that while China is Iran's largest trading partner and a major buyer of its crude oil, diplomatic efforts to end the war have been stalled for weeks or months. The recent meetings suggest China's growing impatience with the lack of progress, with Yu observing that Beijing "wants to be seen to enter [the process]."

Further underscoring this intensified diplomatic drive, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Zhai Jun, Beijing's special envoy on the Middle East, will embark on visits to Iran, Oman, and Saudi Arabia this month.

Concurrently, President Xi Jinping hosted Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in a landmark state visit, marking the first time an Omani head of state has visited China since diplomatic relations were established in 1978. President Xi stated that the Middle East and Gulf region "should not become an arena for great-power rivalry and geopolitical conflict."

Oman, strategically located on the Strait of Hormuz, plays a crucial role in global energy navigation. China, a significant energy importer, views its relationship with Oman as having reached a "new historical starting point." During the visit, China and Oman inked 14 cooperation agreements spanning artificial intelligence, green energy, and supply chains, alongside a currency swap agreement.

In a joint statement, both nations called for the resumption of safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and urged the US and Iran to recommence dialogue. Yu highlighted that the ongoing conflict has elevated the importance of the China-Oman relationship for both parties, particularly due to the disruptions to China's energy imports, noting that "Oman is particularly important because many of its ports are outside the strait."