China is hosting diplomats from Iran and Russia for talks on Iran’s nuclear program Friday as Beijing aims to position itself as a power broker on an issue seen internationally as a pressing security concern.

Senior Chinese and Russian diplomats said dialogue should only resume based on "mutual respect" and all sanctions ought to be lifted.

China, Russia, and Iran held talks in Beijing demanding an end to US sanctions on Tehran, while a sanctions expert expressed skepticism about lifting sanctions as a precondition for negotiations.

Beijing calls for diplomacy over escalation, with all 3 nations urging looking at 'root causes' of Iranian nuclear issue - Anadolu Ajansı

Though it harbours deep mistrust of the United States, and President Donald Trump in particular, Tehran is increasingly concerned that mounting public anger over economic hardships could erupt into mass protests,

A letter U.S. President Donald Trump wrote to Iran's supreme leader in an attempt to jump-start talks over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program has arrived in the Iranian capital.

China, Iran and Russia called for diplomacy over “pressure and threats” and an end to “all illegal unilateral sanctions” following talks on Tehran’s nuclear program Friday in Beijing, Chinese state media said.

China has called for “illegal” sanctions against Iran to be lifted after it hosted diplomats from Tehran and Moscow for talks.