Is China positioning itself to become a US-Iran peace broker?

Key Points:

• China and Pakistan jointly called for an immediate ceasefire and UN-backed peace talks to resolve the Gulf conflict, following Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s visit to Beijing for talks with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi.
• Pakistan is positioning itself as a peace broker, offering to mediate talks between Iran and the US, while discussions in Islamabad included potential Chinese involvement as a guarantor to ensure a peace agreement.
• China supports mediation efforts and aims to play a constructive role in pursuing peace but is likely to avoid committing to any security guarantor role that involves military assets or enforcement responsibilities.
• Beijing seeks to balance its diplomatic relationships with Iran, the US, and other regional players, while cautiously managing its global image as a force for stability amid concerns over the conflict’s economic impact and upcoming US-China diplomatic engagements.
• Despite China’s calls for peace, experts note the deep-rooted animosity and mistrust between the conflict parties, suggesting limited immediate prospects for ceasefire compliance, with Pakistan currently taking a more active role in peace negotiations.