U.S. President Donald Trump says he believes Chinese President Xi Jinping agrees that Iran must open a strategic strait, speaking as Trump returns from Beijing after two days of talks. The remarks come alongside Trump’s consideration of policy changes affecting Iran-related sanctions, including whether to lift U.S. sanctions on Chinese oil companies that buy Iranian oil. Trump notes that China is the largest purchaser of Iranian crude, linking any sanction changes to China’s energy trade.
In reporting on the same trip, China’s position is described as opposing the underlying conflict and indicating that the war “shouldn’t have started.” While Trump’s statement emphasizes Xi’s reported agreement on the issue of keeping the strait open, there is no indication in either source that China is prepared to take additional steps or publicly weigh in further on the issue beyond its broader comments about the conflict.
Both outlets present the discussions as part of the broader negotiating context created by U.S.–China engagement, with sanctions and maritime access central to the exchange.
