    Introduction The Deputy foreign ministers of China, Iran and Saudi Arabia met – in Beijing on December 15, 2023 -- for stock taking of the Saudi-China agreement 

The Deputy foreign ministers of China, Iran and Saudi Arabia met – in Beijing on 

 -- for stock taking of the Saudi-China agreement -- referred to as the Beijing agreement -- signed in March 2023. This was the first meeting of the China-Saudi Arabia-Iran joint committee which seeks to push forward cooperation between Riyadh and Tehran.

 The agreement -- brokered by China earlier this year – paved the way for resumption of 

 between both Middle Eastern countries (seven years after both countries had snapped diplomatic ties). Ever since signing of this deal, Iran set up an embassy in Saudi Arabia in 

 in Iran. There have been several meetings between 

 The Saudi and Iranian sides lauded China for hosting this meeting in Beijing and reiterated their firm commitment to the agreement. Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi called for greater cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Iran. He also 

“It is hoped that the two sides will continue to enhance mutual trust through dialogue and consultation, and achieve a lasting and comprehensive good-neighbourly friendship,”

The timing of the meeting of Deputy Foreign Ministers of China, Saudi Arabia and Iran is important, since it comes amidst the Israel-Palestine conflict which began in October 2023. Since the beginning of the conflict over 

 (18,787) have been killed, while the death toll in Israel stands well over 1,000 (

 Both Iran and Saudi Arabia have been in close touch regarding the Israel-Palestine issue and providing humanitarian assistance in 

. Iranian President, Ebrahim Raisi became the first Iranian President to visit Saudi Arabia in over a decade, when he visited 

 to attend the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (

Here it would be important to point out, that Iran has taken a far stronger stance urging Islamic nations to impose a 

 from Israel . The conflict however has put on hold at least for the time being the normalisation of ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel which seemed on the cards before the beginning of the conflict in October 2023. US President, Joe Biden went to the extent of saying that the Hamas attack sought to reduce the possibility of reconciliation between the Saudis and Iran. Said 

“One of the reasons Hamas moved on Israel ... they knew that I was about to sit down with the Saudis,”

The other important aspect is that in the aftermath of the Israel-Palestine conflict, China’s role in the Middle East has become even more important, given its close ties with Iran. Beijing’s proximity with Tehran has increased ever since the US withdrew from the Iran Nuclear deal/JCPOA in 2018. A strong reiteration of this point is that Tehran and Beijing signed a 25 year strategic agreement --referred to as  

 Ever since the Israel-Palestine conflict began in October 2023, US has repeatedly urged China to prevail upon Iran to stop extending support to Hamas, Houthis and 

 visiting China took this issue up with senior Chinese officials. Iran while extending unequivocal support to Palestinians and defending the 

 by Hamas on Israel has denied any direct role in the same.

ceasefire, humanitarian aid and Palestinian statehood

 to veto a UNSC resolution -- initiated by UAE --  calling for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, China was quick to criticise the move. Last month, China had also 

 a meeting of Foreign Ministers of several countries – including Saudi Arabia, Palestinian Authority (PA), Egypt and Indonesia – to end the conflict in Gaza.

The Deputy Foreign Ministers of Iran, Saudi Arabia and China, during the meeting on December 15, 2023 called for an end to the conflict in Gaza and highlighted the need for providing relief to Palestinians. An official statement issued after the meeting 

“any arrangement regarding the future of Palestine must reflect the will of the Palestinian people, supporting their right to establish their own state and determine their destiny."

In conclusion, the China-Saudi Arabia-Iran joint committee meet was important not just in the context of bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, but also highlighted the changing geopolitical situation in the Middle East and the growing clout of China in the region. Currently, other countries -- including the US -- would be closely observing Beijing’s stance vis-à-vis the Israel-Palestine conflict.

China-Saudi Arabia-Iran trilateral and the geopolitics of the Middle East

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