The United States and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire, with President Donald Trump acknowledging China's role in facilitating the negotiations. However, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical energy chokepoint, remains restricted despite Iran's agreement to ease ship traffic. Analysts highlight China's conflict of interest in the region, as Beijing has vetoed a UN resolution calling for the strait's reopening, citing the need to address the root causes of the conflict, including U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.
China's Foreign Ministry has acknowledged making "active efforts" to end the conflict, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi engaging in diplomatic outreach to multiple countries. However, Beijing has stopped short of confirming direct mediation, emphasizing its focus on protecting its economic interests, particularly global exports. The IMF has warned of potential disruptions to global trade, which could impact China's export-driven economy.
The U.S. and its allies have criticized China and Russia for vetoing the UN resolution, arguing that their actions enable Iran to hold the global economy hostage. Meanwhile, China and Russia contend that the resolution failed to address the underlying causes of the crisis, namely the U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran.