Iran's appointment of a veteran negotiator as its envoy to Beijing signals an unprecedented commitment to China, viewed by experts as highlighting China's role as a diplomatic 'third space' for Middle Eastern negotiations.

Iran has signalled “unprecedented” commitment to its ties with China by appointing a veteran of peace talks with the US as its emissary to Beijing, a move experts say also underscored China’s rise as a “third space” where Middle East powers could quietly negotiate. Tehran has made Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of the country’s parliament, its special envoy to oversee the country’s relationship with China, according to a Sunday report by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency. His...