China’s Iran Leverage Looks Smaller as Hormuz Crisis Spreads

An Iranian flag is placed amids rubble and debris next to a destroyed residential building near Ferdowsi square in Tehran on March 3, 2026. Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP

The Iran war is becoming a test of China’s ability to act as a crisis manager for the Global South — and early signs suggest Beijing’s leverage may be more limited than many governments hoped.

U.S. President Donald Trump said China “could help a lot more” on Iran, while adding that he was “not overly disappointed” with Beijing’s role so far. But Thailand’s foreign minister, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, offered a revealing counterpoint:

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by CGSP Staff

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