Indirect discussions between Tehran and Washington are progressing, but the main sticking point remains unchanged: the fate of Iran’s stock of enriched uranium. Behind this nuclear issue now emerges a larger geopolitical reshuffle, where Beijing increasingly appears as an indispensable diplomatic center, while American military priorities shift between the Middle East and Asia.
Why does enriched uranium still block negotiations?
According to Reuters, the Iranian supreme leader has ordered that enriched uranium close to the military threshold not leave Iranian territory. This hardens Iran’s position against one of the main American demands: to transfer the most sensitive stocks out of Iran.
Donald Trump stated on Thursday that Washington would not allow Tehran to keep these stocks, even mentioning their destruction after recovery. Iran, on the other hand, believes that transferring abroad would weaken its deterrence capability against future American or Israeli strikes.
However, compromise options are still being discussed, including dilution of the stock under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Are Pakistan and China becoming central players?
The Iranian news agency ISNA claims that exchanges of messages and draft texts are underway between the two sides to establish a formal agreement framework. Al Jazeera also mentions intense Pakistani mediation.
Despite Pakistan’s involvement, several signals show the growing influence of Beijing in the major international balances. A few days after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s visit, Vladimir Putin went to China to meet Xi Jinping, highlighting Moscow’s increasing economic and diplomatic dependence on Beijing.
Even in its relationship with Moscow, Beijing sets its own pace: according to Le Monde, Vladimir Putin did not receive the firm commitment hoped for on the Siberia 2 gas pipeline, indicating that Xi Jinping aims to remain at the center of the game without being completely drawn by its partners.
China thus emerges as a point of convergence between several major crises: Ukraine, Iran, energy, and Sino-American rivalry.
Does the conflict with Iran already affect the Taiwan issue?
Another significant signal emerged on Thursday: Washington suspended some arms sales to Taiwan to preserve its ammunition stocks mobilized in the context of the Middle East conflict.
This decision illustrates the growing interconnection of American geopolitical fronts. The Iranian issue no longer just concerns nuclear matters: it now influences American military capabilities in Asia and fuels Beijing’s strategic calculations.
In this context, negotiations with Tehran go beyond the technical question of uranium enrichment. They become a broader test of the balance between Washington, Beijing, and Moscow in a rapidly changing international order.
/2026/05/22/6a103af1abbff854329355.jpg "War in Lebanon: six people killed by Israeli strike.")
