Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing, where Wang called for a ceasefire between Iran, the United States and Israel and warned that the Iran war was entering a critical phase, AP reported on May 6. Wang said China is "deeply distressed" by the conflict and pledged to maintain communication with Iran and other parties to seek a diplomatic resolution.

While China has remained relatively well insulated from shocks in the Strait of Hormuz, the Iran war is nonetheless a net risk for China, with disruptions threatening its energy security, shipping flows and broader economic stability, particularly if the conflict endures for several more months. The United States has asked China to pressure Iran into an agreement ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's scheduled summit in China on May 14-15.