China and Russia are both permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, along with France and Britain, that took part in the original 2015 Iran nuclear deal preliminary framework agreement. Trump withdrew America from the accord in 2018, setting in motion years of tensions in the wider Middle East.

Beijing sought to position itself as a key player in negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program, as President Trump called for talks with Tehran.

BEIJING: China urged an end to "illegal" sanctions on Iran as it hosted diplomats from that country and Russia on Friday (Mar 14) for talks Beijing hopes will restart long-stalled negotiations on Tehran's nuclear programme.