Sanctions relief, Pakistan role propel China backing of Iran-US ceasefire
The US–Iran truce boosts Pakistan — one of China’s closest partners — by elevating its role as a mediator and strengthening a regional balance that favors Beijing’s allies.
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The ceasefire between Iran and the US, though fragile, marks the first major diplomatic step toward ending the war. Pakistan served as the main broker of the truce, while Beijing used its influence in “a last-minute push,” according to The New York Times, to persuade Tehran to show flexibility.
Why would China do this? There are several reasons, including a desire to stabilize a region critical to energy flows and to preserve its broader diplomatic standing, especially if Iran receives sanctions relief. The ceasefire’s terms, particularly those affecting control over the Strait of Hormuz, also appear at this time favorable to Tehran and economically beneficial to both Iran and China.
After announcing a ceasefire between the US and Iran on Tuesday evening, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif — whose country has served as a key intermediary in the talks so far — posted on X, extending Pakistan’s “deepest and sincere gratitude” to China, which he listed first among Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt and Qatar, “for their invaluable and full support in facilitating a ceasefire.”
What we know about China’s role: Citing three Iranian officials in a Wednesday report, The New York Times wrote that Beijing made a last-minute push, urging Iran to accept the ceasefire brokered by Pakistan. At a press conference on the same day, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that China “has worked actively to help bring about an end to the ceasefire” and “will continue playing a constructive role.”
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made 26 phone calls with relevant counterparts, Mao said.
Asked whether Beijing was involved in getting Tehran to the negotiating table ahead of his Tuesday night deadline, President Donald Trump said, “I hear yes. Yes, they were.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that “there were conversations that took place between top levels of our government and China’s government.”
China’s actions at the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday pointed in a similar direction. Alongside Russia, China vetoed a Bahrain-backed resolution aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The measure, reportedly watered down after Chinese and Russian pushback, would have encouraged member states to coordinate defensive efforts to ensure freedom of navigation in the strait.
Speaking to reporters after the vote, Chinese UN Ambassador Fu Cong said the resolution’s timing “is very bad” and that it would be “extremely dangerous for the Security Council to adopt a resolution like this.” China’s move at the UNSC was likely intended to block measures that Tehran viewed as legitimizing external pressure and avoid escalation that could push Tehran away from the negotiating table.
The Associated Press reported that, following the vote, China and Russia circulated a separate draft resolution urging all parties to the conflict to halt military operations and condemning attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure.
An oil tanker is docked unloading crude oil at the port in Qingdao, in China's eastern Shandong province, on April 7, 2026. (Photo by CN-STR / AFP via Getty Images)
Why would China do this?
- It empowers Pakistan, one of China’s closest partners, by elevating Islamabad’s role as a mediator and reinforcing a regional balance in which Beijing’s allies carry more diplomatic weight. Pakistan is widely regarded as China’s closest ally in South Asia. The partnership, often called an “iron brotherhood,” is reflected in massive economic investments like CPEC and shared strategic interests against India.
- If the US accepts Iran’s proposed ceasefire terms, Tehran would benefit significantly — especially if it maintains current control of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s 10-point proposal to end the war reportedly includes a provision allowing it to charge ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Senior Iranian officials told The New York Times that the Islamic Republic could charge roughly $2 million per container ship, potentially generating tens of millions of dollars in daily revenue. Iran could also see movement on sanctions: “We are, and will be, talking tariff and sanctions relief with Iran,” Donald Trump said in a social media post on Wednesday.
- The deal strengthens the regime in Tehran, which has survived the war and remains a strategically important partner for China.
- It signals goodwill ahead of Trump’s visit to Beijing, which was postponed from March, and gives China a chance to project itself as a constructive power.
What comes next: China could emerge as a de facto guarantor if it is willing to use its economic leverage to keep the agreement intact. That said, the agreement could still collapse if violations continue, whether from Israeli strikes in Lebanon or Iranian attacks on Gulf states. While the ceasefire may be a short-term diplomatic win for China, it remains fragile and too early to assess whether it will hold.
