Beijing: China has announced it will host trilateral talks with Russia and Iran this Friday, focusing on Tehran's nuclear program. The discussions aim to address the ongoing issues surrounding Iran’s nuclear activities and broader matters of mutual interest among the three nations, according to a statement released by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday.

The meeting will bring together senior officials from all three countries, including China's Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich, and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi.

The talks come at a time of heightened diplomatic tension over Iran’s nuclear ambitions. During former US President Donald Trump's administration, Washington withdrew from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which had placed restrictions on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for relief from economic sanctions.

Although Tehran initially remained committed to the deal for a year after the US withdrawal, it eventually began scaling back its compliance. Since then, international efforts to revive the landmark agreement have stalled, raising concerns over Iran's nuclear activities.

China’s role as host for these talks underscores its growing involvement in Middle East diplomacy, as it seeks to mediate and facilitate dialogue on contentious global security issues.