Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that new conditions surrounding the nuclear dilemma and sanctions lifting discussions in 2025 require "more consultations" with China. Araghchi made the statements while meeting with media upon his arrival in Beijing on Friday, at the request of his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.

"The main goal of this visit is to [facilitate] consultations on bilateral, regional, and international issues," he told reporters.

He noted that Iran has maintained close talks with China on all regional and international problems, stressing that the two nations have traditionally had strong relations and should continue to collaborate on a variety of subjects.

"We are currently facing a sensitive situation," the senior Iranian official said, citing several regional and global developments.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his delegation have arrived in Beijing to discuss views on bilateral relations and regional and international developments. pic.twitter.com/vG8YctHHZa

— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) December 27, 2024

Araghchi stated that both Tehran and Beijing must participate in more talks to prepare for regional and international problems in 2025, particularly those involving the United Nations Security Council.

In an article published by China's official People's Daily newspaper on Friday, the Iranian foreign minister stated that his travel to China will mark a "new chapter" in strategic collaboration between the two nations and usher in a "golden" age for bilateral ties.

"The next golden 50 years of Iran-China relations will demonstrate that this visit marks the beginning of a new chapter of strategic cooperation between the two countries," Araghchi wrote.

China is Iran's main trading partner and both countries face varying amounts of unlawful sanctions imposed by the United States and the West. 

In March 2021, the two nations inked a significant 25-year collaboration deal to boost their long-standing economic and political ties.

Trump could lead new Iran deal after Assad's fall: Sullivan

In an interview with CNN's Fareed Zakaria on Sunday, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan expressed optimism about a "genuine opportunity" for President-elect Donald Trump to play a pivotal role in brokering a new Iran nuclear deal following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad government in Syria.

However, he also warned of significant challenges ahead.

"It's a risk that I'm personally briefing the incoming team on. I was just in Israel, consulting with the Israelis on this risk," Sullivan said, adding that Iran's "conventional capability has been reduced," a claim Tehran has outwardly rejected. 

In a speech on Sunday, Iranian Leader Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei rejected claims that Iran's influence in the region has diminished.

"Those who repeat that Iran has lost its proxy forces are wrong because Iran does not have proxy forces in the first place," Khamenei said, noting that Iran does not need proxy forces.

The Iranian leader added that viewing America, the Zionist entity, and their supporters as victors in the current order of things is nothing more than "delirium and empty rhetoric."