China recently hosted a trilateral diplomatic meeting in Beijing with representatives from Russia and Iran, aiming to address the ongoing issues surrounding the Iranian nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The meeting underscored China’s ongoing diplomatic efforts to promote dialogue and negotiations as the primary means for resolving international disputes.
In 2015, Iran reached an agreement—the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action—with the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France, and Germany. However, tensions escalated after the U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the agreement in 2018, re-imposing severe sanctions and economic pressures against Iran, complicating the path toward diplomatic resolution.
At a recent symposium held in Beijing on the Iranian nuclear issue, Chinese officials reiterated their stance that diplomatic solutions based on mutual respect remain the only viable method for addressing such complex international challenges. Chinese officials criticized unilateral sanctions, threats of force, and extreme pressure tactics, highlighting that such actions are counterproductive to peace efforts.
The sentiment expressed by Chinese authorities is echoed by international public opinion, according to a recent global survey. Approximately 89.8 percent of participants emphasized that sanctions and threats of force would not facilitate resolution of Iran’s nuclear issues. Additionally, 89.5 percent of respondents supported diplomatic engagement based on mutual respect as the most effective solution.
Respondents also expressed broad support (87.4 percent) for upholding Iran’s right to peacefully use nuclear energy, provided Iran fulfills its commitments not to develop nuclear weapons, while respecting international agreements to prevent proliferation.
Moreover, nearly 90 percent of participants called for developing a regional security architecture in the Middle East that separates the Iranian nuclear issue from other political disputes. They praised recent diplomatic efforts by China, such as facilitating reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia and supporting intra-Palestinian dialogue.
Nearly 7,800 individuals participated in the multilingual survey over a 24-hour period.
