Iran is seeking stronger backing from China as a temporary US pause in naval operations opens a narrow diplomatic window over the Strait of Hormuz crisis. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing on Wednesday, days before a planned Trump–Xi summit at which Beijing is positioning itself as a potential mediator. The talks come after President Donald Trump suspended “Project Freedom”, a US mission to escort stranded vessels, while maintaining a broader naval blockade of Iranian ports. The conflict, triggered by US and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, has killed thousands, disrupted global shipping and left hundreds of ships stuck or moving cautiously through the vital energy chokepoint. Tehran has continued missile and drone attacks on commercial vessels and Gulf targets, underscoring how fragile the ceasefire and emerging diplomatic efforts remain.
