TEHRAN – Iran, China and Russia are scheduled to hold trilateral talks in Beijing this Friday in a move to counter Western economic pressure and reinvigorate nuclear negotiations.
The talks, announced Wednesday by Iranian Foreign Minister Kazem Galibabadi, highlight Tehran’s strategic pivot against the eastern powers seeking to dismantle US-led sanctions and assert its role in the new multipolar world order.
The upcoming High Stakes trilateral meeting, set to include China’s Deputy Minister Ma Chaoks and Russia’s Deputy Minister Sergei Lyabukov, will focus on dismantling “unjust and oppressive sanctions” against Iran.
Furthermore, the agenda highlights the need to strengthen cooperation within the BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as a means to counter Western domination.
Esmaeir Bakaei, a spokesman for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also confirmed future consultations and said the discussion will focus on developments regarding the nuclear issue and lifting sanctions.
Baqaei added that the speech is not only “discussing and exchanging opinions on issues of other interest to the three countries”, including regional and international development, but also concerns cooperation within the framework of BRICS and SCO.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov repeatedly supported Moscow in a recent interview, saying, “We are in favor of restoring the original joint comprehensive plan of action (JCPOA,).”
However, Russian diplomats have some reservations, saying, “What I’m worried about is that there are indications that Americans want this new deal to come with political terms.
“It’s unrealistic to say that everyone except Iran has the right to project influence,” he argued, denying Washington’s push to segregate regionally.
Earlier on Saturday, Ayatollah, the leader of the Islamic Revolution, argued that Ali Khamenei made a poignant responsibilities of western diplomacy in a speech to senior Iranian officials, and that the US and its allies were trying to use negotiations as a tool to extract concessions rather than to resolve conflicts.
“The expectations of bullying countries will never be accepted,” he declared, denounced Washington’s speech framing as a zero-sum game.
The leader’s remarks reinforced February’s warning of “unwise, discordant and dishonorable” involvement with the United States.
Araghchi criticizes UNSC session as “unprecedented”
Addressing another JCPOA-related development, Foreign Minister Abbas Araguchi sharpened criticism of Iran’s western operation during a post-cabinet briefing on Wednesday.
“This session raises doubts on the goodwill of the nation that demanded it,” Araguchi urged the council to focus on “the main duty to maintain peace and security” rather than proceeding with the hostile narrative.
He reaffirmed Iran’s openness to dialogue, saying, “We are always ready to negotiate equally on the nuclear program,” reaffirming Iran’s openness to dialogue.
Araghchi detailed Tehran’s diplomatic efforts. We recently held the fourth round with the European states. We are soon moving forward with discussions between another state and China and Russia. ”
He confirmed the upcoming trilateral summit with the eastern powers, saying, “We operate a nuclear program within the treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) Framework. It is dynamic, growing and progressing, but does not impose any restrictions on ourselves outside that framework.”
The top diplomats also denounced Europe’s “flawed policies” and abolished post-JCPOA commitments.
“After the US withdrawal, Europe has promised to support the deal, but it failed. They have to be accountable now,” he said. I don’t feel isolated. ”
JCPOA: A broken legacy
Shortly after returning to the White House in 2025, US President Donald Trump signed a presidential memorandum that accused Iran of “destabilizing” and revived sanctions on the West Asian nation and developed plans to further strangle the country’s economy.
The goal stated by the directive is to bring Iran’s oil exports to “zero” by updating the so-called maximum pressure campaign.
The maximum pressure campaign was first introduced in 2018 after Trump announced his first term in office that Washington’s official withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Subsequent campaigns included an intensifying re-station of anti-Iran sanctions, which were removed under the JCPOA, in exchange for restrictions on Tehran’s nuclear activity.
The unilateral US withdrawal from the JCPOA and the recovery of sanctions has been widely criticized as unstable and counterproductive.
Despite Iran’s compliance with Iran’s nuclear restrictions, the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” strategy, a fact repeatedly confirmed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), targets oil, banking, transport, transport, and key sectors that cripple the Iranian economy and exacerbate humanitarian challenges.
The campaign disproportionately harmed civilians to avoid inflation rising, access to medicines diminishing, and creating meaningful diplomatic progress.
European signatories are struggling to put pressure on us and provide concrete economic benefits to Iran while advocating for the preservation of the transaction.
The Biden administration’s efforts to revive the JCPOA after 2021 was initially seen as a potential step to alleviate tensions. However, these attempts have largely failed to produce meaningful progress.
Meanwhile, Iran gradually reduced the JCPOA commitment, enriching uranium to higher purity levels, limiting IAEA monitoring.