Iran’s Araghchi Heads to China Ahead of Xi–Trump Talks

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi will visit China on September 16 for talks with his counterpart Wang Yi, placing Beijing’s engagement with Tehran ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s expected meeting with US President Donald Trump later this month.

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the visit on Tuesday. It confirmed that Wang, who is also a member of the Communist Party of China’s Political Bureau, would hold talks with Araghchi.

The meeting comes as Iran seeks engagement with key partners amid heightened tensions in West Asia and its military confrontation with the United States.

Xi is expected to visit the US on September 24. Trump announced the date during remarks to executives from the US travel sector earlier this month, expressing optimism about the meeting.

“By the way, we have the president of China coming on the 24th; it’ll be very exciting and be great, and I'd love to have him,” Trump said.

Araghchi’s visit will extend a series of recent diplomatic exchanges with Wang. The two met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Kyrgyzstan in July and held a separate pull-aside meeting during the BRICS Summit.

The China trip also follows Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s participation in the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, where he urged members to take practical action against what he described as unilateral and inhumane sanctions.

Pezeshkian called for a stronger BRICS role in addressing global conflicts, arguing that attacks on civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities threatened international peace and security. He also urged the grouping to uphold the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.

BRICS leaders unanimously adopted the New Delhi Declaration 2026, calling for reforms in global governance and greater representation for developing countries.

On West Asia, the declaration expressed deep concern over escalating tensions and urged maximum restraint, protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. It also stressed the need to keep global trade, supply chains and energy flows moving in accordance with international law.

Pezeshkian separately met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the summit’s sidelines to discuss bilateral ties and developments in West Asia.

Modi emphasised continued efforts towards lasting regional peace and stability, alongside freedom of navigation, uninterrupted commerce and the safety of seafarers amid tensions affecting the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Araghchi’s meeting with Wang will give Tehran another opportunity to discuss those concerns with Beijing before Xi’s expected engagement with Washington.

With inputs from ANI