By Shahzaib Saqib
BEIJING — Donald Trump claimed Chinese President Xi Jinping offered to help bring an end to the Iran conflict and pledged that China would not provide military equipment to Tehran during high-level talks in Beijing this week.
Speaking after the summit, Trump said Xi agreed that Iran should never obtain a nuclear weapon and supported reopening the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes.
Trump also said Xi indicated China was prepared to assist diplomatically in reducing tensions surrounding the Iran war, though U.S. officials later clarified Washington was not formally requesting Beijing’s help.
The discussions came during Trump’s state visit to China amid rising fears over Middle East instability, global oil disruptions, and the future of Iran’s nuclear program. The Strait of Hormuz crisis has already shaken international energy markets due to repeated threats and disruptions involving Iranian forces.
According to Trump, Xi stressed that China wants the Strait of Hormuz reopened because Beijing heavily depends on oil shipments passing through the region. Trump claimed Xi also reassured him that China would not transfer military equipment to Iran despite maintaining economic ties with Tehran.
While both leaders projected optimism publicly, analysts noted that no major breakthrough agreements were officially announced regarding Iran, Taiwan, or broader U.S.-China tensions. Chinese officials released only limited details from the talks and continued to emphasize diplomacy and regional stability.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio later said both sides agreed that Iran should not develop nuclear weapons and shared concerns over threats to global shipping lanes.
The summit highlighted the increasingly global nature of the Iran crisis, with the United States and China now deeply engaged in discussions involving energy security, maritime trade, and nuclear tensions across the Middle East.