China Pulled Deeper Into Iran As Trump Talks Stall

Iran wants China to play a bigger role in brokering a nuclear deal to end the war with the United States and to potentially take custody of its highly enriched uranium, a philanthropist and businessman in close contact with Iranian negotiators told Newsweek.

Despite a ceasefire in a war that has shaken the global economy because of its impact on Middle East oil exports, talks between the U.S. and Iran have stalled. Both sides have set out maximalist demands, with Iran refusing calls from President Donald Trump's administration for a halt to all uranium enrichment, the curbing of missile forces and an end to support for regional proxies. It instead demands compensation for U.S. and Israeli bombing since the war began on February 28.

China, which is due to host Trump next month, helped behind the scenes in securing the ceasefire. That boosted its diplomatic credentials in its long-term rivalry with the U.S. even as the war hammered its Iranian friend and cut its oil imports.

Mohamed Amersi, head of the Amersi Foundation, told Newsweek in Beijing that the Iranians were under economic pressure for a deal and had told him they sought a bigger role from China in ending the conflict.

"One hundred percent, absolutely, the Iranians want China," Amersi said, adding that the message was essentially that: "If China really wants to be respected as a power in the making, they need to roll up their sleeves and do something. It’s not to say, take the Iranian side. They need to read out some home truths to Iran and also then go to the United States, and say: ‘Look, we are in a position of trust with Iran.'”

Enriched Uranium

Amersi set out specifics at a conference of the Beijing-based Center for China and Globalization (CCG) at the weekend. He said China could take custody of Iran's highly enriched uranium, which puts it a small step from building nuclear weapons. China could also underwrite a new nuclear framework and condition the investment it can provide-and which Iran needs-on de-escalation.

It could put this at the center of the meeting planned between Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in May, he said.

Newsweek contacted China's Foreign Ministry, the U.S. State Department and Iran's Foreign Ministry for comment.

Earlier this month, Trump credited China with helping to bring Iran to the negotiating table after its earlier refusal. After saying he had secured the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz chokepoint-although that never actually happened-he said Xi would give him a "big, fat hug" when they meet.

"We are working together smartly and very well!" Trump said at the time.

China was well placed to do more in bringing an end to the Iran conflict, CCG founder Henry Huiyao Wang told Newsweek.

"What happens in Iran doesn't really help anybody. We're now stakeholders like the whole world. Things need to be under control," he said.

"If there's a desire on both sides to calm down-the U.S. wants to calm down and Iran also wants to calm down-that's probably very easy for China really to be a third party to come in and to mediate to calm down both sides."

Blows to China

Trump's attack on Iran and his capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro have been obvious blows to Chinese allies that have also taken a toll on China's energy imports. That points to a strengthening of the U.S. against its only global rival superpower.

But the view from Beijing is that China has not been delivered a major setback and, if anything, is emerging stronger as the Iran war drags on.

"Iran, of course, is very close to China. But mainly it's because of the energy. Beyond that, I don’t see anything very critical for China to hold a very close relationship," Shou Huisheng, an associate professor at Beijing Language and Culture University, told Newsweek.

"There’s not any reason for China to help them, because it would definitely hurt China by making America angry…. Iran, no matter how critical you talk about it for China, the U.S. is more important for China. The major priority for China is to deal with the U.S. and to make sure the two countries will not have a big problem."

China has denied U.S. accusations of providing weapons to Iran despite their close ties.

Although China was the biggest buyer of oil from Iran and Venezuela, it gets more oil from other sources and had comfortable fuel stockpiles. Just as important has been its adoption of electric vehicles. Beijing streets can appear oddly quieter as the number of internal combustion engines dwindles and as electric scooters have become a silent menace for pedestrians.

Trump-Xi Summit

Energy aside, the Iran war has undoubtedly shifted the dynamic between the U.S. and China, which has sought to portray itself as a consistent and responsible global player in contrast to the unpredictable Trump.

"Maybe you can say China is in a stronger position,” Da Wei, director of the Center for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University, told Newsweek. "My view is the Trump administration kind of weakened their own international position in the war. I think the Pax Americana has been ended by President Trump. It’s not only for this war; many things happened in the past few years.”

"Compared with two years ago, I think China feels safer and the pressure has become smaller from the U.S. and from the West. Having said that, a more chaotic situation may not be good news for anyone."

The U.S.-China dynamic will come into full focus with the summit due in Beijing between Trump and Xi, who is also due to visit the U.S. later in the year and to meet the U.S. president at two other international conferences in 2026.

"The situation in Iran makes Trump in a weaker position. The longer the situation runs, the weaker Trump will become in terms of negotiating with China," said Shou.

Other issues likely to be discussed between Trump and Xi-if not in public-will be the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by China's Russian partner, the potential flashpoint in Taiwan over China's longstanding claim to the self-ruling island, and tensions over trade and cutting-edge technology. But Iran will be key.

"Trump now is in a predicament," said Wang. "I think they need China to be really on the side, to really calm down both sides. And I think if the U.S. can relax their pressure on China, China certainly is willing to do more on the help to stabilize the U.S. difficulties. I mean, we need to help each other."

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This story was originally published April 27, 2026 at 4:55 AM.