LONDON, United Kingdom – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was in Beijing on Wednesday for meetings with Chinese authorities on the upcoming US-Iran nuclear talks.

Upon arrival, the minister told Iran's state broadcaster that he was planning to "fully brief our Chinese friends," while also delivering a message from President Masoud Pezeshkian to the Chinese leadership.

Describing Beijing as a "strategic partner" along with Moscow, Araghchi noted that the two regional powers have played a constructive part in Iran's nuclear standoff with the West and have stood by Tehran during "difficult times."

China and Russia are both signatories to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal—formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)—which the US withdrew from during President Donald Trump's first term in office in 2018.

Araghchi's China visit is taking place only three days into a third round of nuclear talks between Iranian and American delegations, expected to be mediated by Omani officials in Muscat.

The Iranian minister also underlined China's influence as a permanent member of the UN Security Council as well as the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), adding that Beijing has "steadily cooperated" with Tehran on its nuclear issue "and will continue to do so."

Why it matters

Araghchi—Iran's chief negotiator in the nuclear talks—sat down with China's First Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, who is also a senior member of the Communist Party's Politburo Standing Committee.

Iran signed a 25-year strategic partnership pact with China in 2021, the implementation and trajectory of which Araghchi discussed with the Chinese vice premier.

On the ongoing nuclear talks, the Iranian minister told the national broadcaster that the diplomatic initiative was on the "right track" and could yield outcomes should the United States refrain from seeking "unrealistic demands."

Araghchi was on a similar mission to Moscow last week—on the eve of the second round of the nuclear talks—for what he said was consultation with Russian officials.

Earlier on Wednesday, the London-based Iran International TV channel cited "informed sources" as saying that Araghchi was also conveying a formal message from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In the letter—the report claimed—Khamenei offered assurances to Xi that any possible deal between Washington and Tehran will leave no impact upon the latter's strategic relations with Beijing.

Khamenei, according to Iran International, has also reiterated to Xi Iran's continued adherence to his famous "Look to East" policy. The strategy, which Khamenei has been persistently promoting for over a decade, seeks to expand ties with China and Russia to mitigate the consequences of US economic pressure on Tehran.