Xi Jinping praises Pakistan’s role in US-Iran mediation

BEIJING (The Thursday Times) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday praised Pakistan’s role in mediating between the United States and Iran, hailing the country’s “unbreakable” friendship with China and welcoming Field Marshal Asim Munir to Beijing alongside Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The meeting followed talks earlier in the day with Premier Li Qiang, and came as Pakistan’s mediation efforts continued to draw international recognition, with Iran having publicly thanked Pakistan by name earlier on Monday. The Thursday Times has covered Pakistan’s central role in these negotiations throughout.

President Xi Jinping personally thanked PM Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir for Pakistan's role in mediating between the US and Iran.
"I know that Field Marshal Munir just came back from Iran for positive efforts to mediate for peace. We appreciate the constructive… pic.twitter.com/yffxftGdQb

— The Thursday Times (@thursday_times) May 25, 2026

Read our earlier report on Iran publicly thanking Pakistan by name here.

“I know that Field Marshal Munir just came back from Iran for positive efforts to mediate for peace. We appreciate the constructive role of Pakistan.” President Xi Jinping · Beijing · 25 May 2026

Xi praises Pakistan’s mediation role

Xi Jinping specifically acknowledged Field Marshal Munir’s recent visit to Tehran, saying he had returned from Iran for “positive efforts to mediate for peace.” He described Pakistan’s role as “constructive” and said China appreciated it. Xi also said China and Pakistan had “understood each other, trusted each other and supported each other” over 75 years of diplomatic relations, forging what he called an “unbreakable tradition of friendship.” China said it would work with Pakistan to “make positive contributions to the early restoration of peace and stability in the Middle East.”

PM Shehbaz Sharif, in turn, called China and Pakistan two “iron brother” countries with a relationship that is “next to none.” He said Pakistan had played a “very sincere role” in mediating between the US and Iran, and thanked China for its support in promoting peace. Sharif added that Pakistan hoped to “host the next round of talks very soon” and would continue peace efforts “with utmost sincerity.”

Munir in Beijing after Tehran

Field Marshal Munir’s presence in Beijing alongside PM Shehbaz Sharif is itself significant. He concluded his overnight negotiations in Tehran on Saturday, flew back to Pakistan, and then travelled to China as part of the prime ministerial delegation. His participation in the Beijing meetings signals that Pakistan’s mediation effort is not pausing, it is continuing through every available channel, including Beijing, which has its own lines of communication with both Washington and Tehran.

Pakistan Today noted that some observers have gone as far as to suggest that China is acting in the Iran matter through Pakistan, though Pakistan has no intention of acting against China’s interests and is not anyone’s proxy. China’s primary interest in the Iran situation centres on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the restoration of normal oil flows, which Pakistan’s mediation directly serves.

CPEC Phase II also on the agenda

The Beijing visit is not solely about Iran. PM Shehbaz and Premier Li Qiang agreed to accelerate the next phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, with focus on industrialisation, connectivity, agriculture, digital transformation, clean energy, and socio-economic development. Sharif proposed aligning China’s 15th Five-Year Plan with Pakistan’s development framework “Uraan Pakistan.” He also reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to ensuring the security of Chinese citizens, institutions and projects in Pakistan.

Xi also referenced a letter he had received from Pakistani students at Tianjin University, saying he was “truly encouraged to see that our friendship is being carried forward by the younger generation.” China said it was ready to work with Pakistan to build a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era.

The Thursday Times will continue to update this story as events develop.