Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday he had “received messages” from the United States saying it is willing to continue talks, and that he was open to any support, including from China.
“We received messages again from the Americans saying that they are willing to continue the talks and continue the interaction,” Araghchi told reporters in the Indian capital.
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Trump’s China Visit in Spotlight
Araghchi spoke a day after US President Donald Trump said Xi Jinping had offered China’s help to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and that the Chinese leader had also pledged not to send military equipment to aid Iran in its war against the United States and Israel.
“We appreciate any country who has the ability to help, particularly China,” Araghchi said, speaking after he attended a meeting of the BRICS bloc of nations in New Delhi.
“We have very good relations with China, we are strategic partners to each other, and we know that (the) Chinese have a good intention, so anything that can be done by them to help diplomacy would be welcomed by the Islamic republic,” he added.
China said it had been working to help end the conflict since it began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.
“There is no point in continuing this conflict, which should not have happened in the first place,” China’s foreign ministry told AFP.
“To find an early way to resolve the situation is in the interest of not only the US and Iran, but also regional countries and the rest of the world.”
Pakistan: A Key Mediators
Pakistan has been the key mediator so far between the United States and Iran, but a first round of talks in Islamabad in April failed to reach any agreements.
“The mediation process by Pakistan has not failed yet, but it is in a very difficult course, mostly because of the Americans’ behaviour and the mistrust which exists between us,” Araghchi said.
BRICS nations, including Iran and Russia, met in New Delhi on Thursday, where India warned of “considerable flux” in a world hit by conflict, economic uncertainty and energy insecurity.
War in Iran and the related fuel crisis are dominating discussions in the two-day gathering.
Oil and War a focal point for BRICS Summit
India was hosting the foreign ministers from the expanded bloc that now includes Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — countries at odds over the conflict launched by the United States and Israel on February 28.
“We meet at a time of considerable flux in international relations,” India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said, in his opening speech, before closed meetings began.
Among the foreign ministers attending were Iran’s Abbas Araghchi and Russia’s Sergei Lavrov.
“Ongoing conflicts, economic uncertainties, and challenges in trade, technology, and climate are shaping the global landscape,” Jaishankar added, saying many countries “continue to face challenges on energy, food, fertiliser and health security”.
Gulf Still Under Uncertainty and Unstability
Disruptions around Gulf shipping routes and the Strait of Hormuz continue to drive volatility in oil and gas markets, increasing pressure on energy-importing economies, including India.
India’s foreign ministry also condemned an attack on an Indian-flagged ship off Oman on Wednesday as “unacceptable” — with all sailors rescued safely by Muscat.
“We deplore the fact that commercial shipping and civilian mariners continue to be targeted,” the foreign ministry said, without giving further details of who launched the attack.
Araghchi, speaking in New Delhi, insisted that the Strait of Hormuz “is open for all” commercial vessels who “cooperate” with its navy.
“There is no such thing as a military solution to anything related to Iran,” Araghchi said. “We Iranians never bow to any pressure or threat, but we reciprocate the language of respect.”
