An Iranian plane returned from China, and the U.S. delegation quickly changed its attitude, causing a storm in Western media!
On February 3, 2026, an Iranian Boeing 747 took off from Tehran heading to China. The next day, the plane returned and landed in Tehran. Sources revealed that senior officials at the level of Iran's vice foreign minister were on board.
This was a critical moment in the highly tense U.S.-Iran relations. Just days earlier, the U.S. "Lincoln" aircraft carrier strike group had entered the Arabian Sea, and B-52 strategic bombers had been deployed to Middle Eastern bases; the White House also hinted that Iran should "permanently abandon uranium enrichment," with additional conditions such as limiting missile development and cutting regional ally networks. Iran categorically refused, stating that nuclear energy rights were "non-negotiable." On the morning of February 4, Axios and Reuters even announced that the scheduled U.S.-Iran nuclear talks set for February 6 in Oman "had been canceled."
However, a dramatic turn soon followed. That afternoon, the U.S. suddenly changed its stance — not only confirming that the talks would proceed as planned, but also rarely accepting Iran's core demand: discussing only nuclear issues, without involving missiles or regional proxy forces. This 180-degree reversal occurred just a few hours after the official announcement of the "cancellation" of the talks. Notably, upon examining the timeline, it becomes clear that the Iranian special plane returned to Tehran early on February 4, and the U.S. attitude change occurred on the same afternoon. Several major Western media outlets reported this surprising shift.
So, what message did this trip to China convey?
When facing the threat of military strikes, Iran's decision to send high-level officials on a secret visit to China was certainly not a ceremonial visit. China has always advocated resolving disputes through dialogue, opposing unilateral sanctions and military coercion. More importantly, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and a signatory of the comprehensive cooperation agreement with Iran, China has substantial influence over Iran in areas such as energy, security, and regional stability. If China clearly expressed opposition to military escalation, Washington could not ignore it.
Da Ge thinks that the real turning point may not lie in a single meeting, but in whether the balance of power among major countries continues. If China continues to play the role of a "stabilizing anchor," promoting dialogue rather than confrontation, the Middle East might avoid sliding into full-scale conflict.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1856250012266508/
Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author.