Wang Yi Works the Phones as Iran Crisis Escalates

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke by phone with his Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi on March 2, 2026. Image via the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

As U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran reverberate across the Middle East, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has launched a flurry of calls with regional and European counterparts, positioning Beijing as a voice for de-escalation while reaffirming support for Tehran’s sovereignty.

The outreach signals China’s effort to balance its strategic partnership with Iran against its growing economic and diplomatic ties across the Gulf—and with Europe.

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