Beijing, China. U.S. President Donald Trump said his patience with Iran was running out and that Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed Tehran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz, though China gave no indication it would weigh in.
Trump comments after talks with Xi
As he flew back from Beijing on Friday after two days of talks with Xi, Trump said he was considering whether to lift U.S. sanctions on Chinese oil companies buying Iranian oil. China is the biggest buyer of Iranian oil.
His comments did not indicate whether Beijing might use its influence with Tehran to end a conflict China said should never have started.
“I’m not asking for any favors because, when you ask for favors, you have to do favors in return,” Trump said when asked by a reporter on his plane home whether Xi had made any firm commitment to put pressure on the Iranians to reopen the strait.
“We’ve wiped out their (Iran’s) armed forces, essentially. We may have to do a little cleanup work,” Trump said.
China’s position and foreign ministry statement
Xi did not comment on his discussions with Trump about Iran, although China’s foreign ministry issued a statement outlining Beijing’s frustration with the Iran war.
“This conflict, which should never have happened, has no reason to continue,” the ministry said.
Strait closure and escalation risks
Iran effectively shut the strait to most shipping in response to U.S.-Israeli attacks that began on February 28, causing an unprecedented disruption to global energy supplies.
The U.S. paused its attacks on Iran last month but began a blockade of its ports. Tehran said it would not unblock the strait until the U.S. ended its blockade. Trump has threatened to attack Iran again if it does not agree a deal.
“We don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon, we want the straits open,” Trump said in Beijing, sitting alongside Xi.
What do you think China’s role should be in efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz?