China in the Mideast

Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf (C) waves as he returns to his car after visiting the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted Beirut's Basta neighbourhood, on October 12, 2024. At least 22 people were killed in Israeli strikes on a densely populated area of central Beirut on October 10, the Lebanese health ministry said, with a security source saying a Hezbollah figure was the target. (Photo by Ibrahim AMRO / AFP) (Photo by IBRAHIM AMRO/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Speaker, negotiator, China envoy: What Ghalibaf's accumulated powers mean for Iran

Iran's appointment of Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf to oversee the China relationship demonstrates his ability to operate across Iran's fractured institutional landscape and produce political outcomes.

Jamshid Jamshidi

By Jamshid Jamshidi

Ships navigate the Bosphorus Strait on May 02, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. Since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war against Iran, forcing the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and together with the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, global shipping routes have been severely impacted. Soaring shipping costs, lengthening delivery times and less efficient routes have seen increased pressure on energy markets and supply chains worldwide. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Analysis

Why Turkey sees opportunity in Hormuz crisis to boost Middle Corridor

Ankara seeks to exploit transport disruptions from the Iran, Ukraine wars to push the corridor, but high costs, logistical bottlenecks and South Caucasus politics pose obstacles.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Iranian cargo trucks cross into the Pakistan-Iran border at Taftan, Balochistan province, on June 18, 2025, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.

Analysis

Pakistan’s six corridors offer Iran a trade lifeline, could outlast Hormuz crisis

Sabena Siddiqui

By Sabena Siddiqui

In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran

trump xi

Analysis

Why China didn’t hand Trump a breakthrough on Iran

Trump's landmark three-day visit to China — the first for a US president since 2017 — included plenty of fanfare, flattery and awkward selfies but failed to produce deals or breakthroughs on Iran.

Joyce Karam

By Rosaleen Carroll , Joyce Karam

Latest News

Analysis

Iran looms large over Trump’s China visit, but breakthrough unlikely

TOPSHOT - US President Donald Trump (C) is escorted by China's Vice President Han Zheng (R) upon his arrival at Beijing Capital Airport in Beijing on May 13, 2026. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images)

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

Analysis

Ahead of Trump-Xi summit, Iran looks to China as guarantor — but with reservations

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands as they arrive for talks at the Gimhae Air Base in Busan, South Korea, on Oct. 30, 2025.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Analysis

China shores up Iran support as Trump seeks exit

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi of Iran meeting with Foreign Minister Wang Yi of China in Beijing on May 6, 2026. Credit: Telegram

Joyce Karam

Iran, China discuss Hormuz reopening amid potential US-Iran talks

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, second right, talks to his Iranian Counterpart Abbas Araghchi, left, during the bilateral meeting in Beijing, Wednesday, May 6, 2026.

Israeli pharmaceutical company Teva receives Chinese approval for new Huntington's treatment

The approval to provide the tablets in China that treat the deadly neurological disease is the second in the world after the United States.

JERUSALEM - MAY 13: (----EDITORIAL USE ONLY √¢ MANDATORY CREDIT - "KOBI GIDEON / GPO / HANDOUT" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----) U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (R) meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) after traveling abroad for the first time amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in West Jerusalem on May 13, 2020. (Photo by Kobi Gideon / GPO / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

China calls top US diplomat's comments in Israel 'absurd'

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said China was not being forthcoming about the coronavirus and critiqued Israel-China ties in Jerusalem this week.

Gulf’s megaprojects face delays, reassessment

Saudi Arabia has cut capital expenditure for a number of Vision 2030 projects amid a drop in oil prices and Chinese investment. Will other Gulf states follow suit?

Women wear protective face masks, as they walk, after Saudi Arabia imposed a temporary lockdown on the province of Qatif, following the spread of coronavirus, in Qatif, Saudi Arabia March 10, 2020. REUTERS/Stringer - RC25HF9S55OY

China ramps up COVID-19 diplomacy in Mideast

As the Trump administration tries to link the coronavirus to a Chinese laboratory, Beijing is using the pandemic to strengthen ties in the Gulf.

Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi before a bilateral meeting of the Second Belt and Road Forum at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, China April 25, 2019. Andrea Verdelli/Pool via REUTERS *** Local Caption *** BEIJING, CHINA - APRIL 25: Egypt President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi talks to Chinese President Xi Jinping (not pictured) during a bilateral meeting of the Second Belt and Road Forum at the Great Hall of the People on April 25, 2019 in Beijing, C

Cairo-Beijing ties strong amid surge of anti-China sentiment in Egypt

Egyptian-Chinese relations appear to be unshaken after an Egyptian lawyer filed a lawsuit against China for damages due to the coronavirus.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (2 R) talks during a meeting with Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan (L) in Jerusalem, on October 24, 2018. - Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan on Monday became the most senior Beijing official to visit Israel in 18 years, as the two countries look to bolster their growing business ties. (Photo by Ariel Schalit / POOL / AFP) (Photo credit should read ARIEL SCHALIT/AFP via Getty Images)

Will post-coronavirus world bring chill to Israel-China relations?

Not everyone in Israel, especially in the defense establishment, is enthusiastic about cooperating with a large China company in the battle against the coronavirus.

Does Moscow’s withdrawal from OPEC-plus deal end Russia-Saudi honeymoon?

Russia’s decision to break off from the Saudis in the OPEC-plus agreement has some merits.

A member of the medical team sprays disinfectant as a precaution against the coronavirus, following the outbreak of the virus, in a dental clinic in Sadr city district of Baghdad, Iraq, March 9, 2020. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani - RC2CGF9V03HD

Coronavirus damages Iraqi economy with fall in tourism, oil prices

COVID-19 has harmed both the private and public sectors of the Iraqi economy.

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (C, wearing dark glasses) inspects an honour guard during a welcoming ceremony at the prime minister's residence in Islamabad May 22, 2012. Erdogan is in Islamabad on a three-day official visit to meet Pakistani leaders. REUTERS/Mian Khursheed (PAKISTAN - Tags: POLITICS) - GM1E85M1HZ401

Erdogan to discuss trade, military plans in Pakistan

Pakistani and Turkish officials have a variety of topics to address when they meet this week, including investment, foreign policy, China and defense.

BANJUL, GAMBIA - JANUARY 27: President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan is welcomed by Gambia's President Adama Barrow with official welcoming ceremony in Banjul, Gambia on January 27, 2020. (Photo by Er√É¬ßin Top/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Is France irked by Erdogan’s passion for Africa?

Erdogan’s efforts to boost Turkey’s economic role in Africa have been marked by outbursts maligning France’s colonial past, but there is more to Turkey’s Africa opening that fuels the bilateral spats.

Iraq's outgoing government keeps mum on China pact

Iraq's economic agreement with China was signed in October but its details are still a mystery, providing fodder for conspiracy theories and potential legal objections.

Libya is only small part of Turkey’s ambitious Africa overture

Although Turkey’s moves in Libya capture a lot of headlines these days, Ankara has been busy on other fronts in Africa.