China has urged Pakistan to expand its role as a mediator between the United States and Iran and to help advance the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, ahead of Donald Trump's visit to Beijing for discussions with Xi Jinping.
On 13 May 2026, China's official news agency Xinhua reported that Wang Yi, China's Foreign Minister, held a phone conversation with Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar. Wang Yi called on Pakistan to increase its role as an intermediary mediator between the US and Iran, noting that Pakistan has become a key channel for negotiations between the two countries as they seek a peace agreement to end the Middle Eastern conflict.
The report stated that Wang Yi requested Pakistan to intensify its mediation efforts and assist in appropriately resolving the issue of reopening the Strait of Hormuz. He also affirmed that China would support Pakistan’s mediation role and help contribute to easing the situation.
This Chinese initiative comes ahead of US President Donald Trump's arrival in Beijing on Wednesday night to attend a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who leads a country considered a major strategic and economic ally of Iran.
However, the Iranian government recently rejected proposals to revise the negotiation terms on Tuesday, following Trump's criticism of Tehran's offer as "trash."
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important oil shipping routes, and ongoing tensions in the area continue to impact global energy markets and oil prices.
Source: AFP