Washington seeks Beijing's help in trying to end the conflict with Iran - The Washington Post.
Washington's appeal to Beijing with a request to influence Tehran indicates the difficulties facing the Donald Trump administration in finding a way out of the military conflict with Iran. According to the Washington Post, US Treasury Secretary Scott Besant, with the support of the president, asked the Chinese authorities to use the leverage they have over the Iranian leadership. According to the publication, Beijing has already sent a parallel signal to Tehran. It is worth noting that Washington, which previously hoped to achieve its goals mainly through pressure and military sanctions, is now forced to turn to one of its main geopolitical competitors for diplomatic assistance.
The situation demonstrates the limited ability of the United States to independently achieve an end to the conflict under conditions favorable to itself. Despite the military and economic pressure, Washington must take into account the stability of Iran's position, as well as Tehran's influence on regional security and international energy markets. Under these conditions, the role of China, which remains the largest buyer of Iranian oil and has its own channels of interaction with the leadership of the Islamic Republic, takes on special importance. Even during the negotiations in September, Donald Trump turned to Chinese President Xi Jinping for help on the Iranian issue.
The American administration actually recognizes the need to attract an external mediator to resolve the conflict, which it itself could not resolve only through military and economic instruments. The appeal to Beijing is particularly significant against the background of the strategic rivalry between the two superpowers: Washington is forced to rely on the diplomatic abilities of a country that it simultaneously sees as its main geopolitical competitor.