WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that he doesn’t require assistance from China to resolve the ongoing conflict with Iran. However, he looks forward to a detailed discussion with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their upcoming summit this week.
Before his departure for Beijing, Trump told reporters, “We’re going to have a long talk about it.”
China plays a significant role in Iran’s economy, being a major buyer of Iranian oil and a key diplomatic ally for Tehran.
Despite this relationship, Trump emphasized that he doesn’t need Xi’s intervention to navigate the war, which began roughly two and a half months ago following a major US-Israeli assault. Since then, the situation has reached a stalemate, particularly concerning control over the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping route.
Trump remarked, “We have much to discuss. I wouldn’t say Iran is the focus, to be honest, because we have Iran pretty much under control.” He added, “We’re either going to make a deal or they will face severe consequences.”
In light of reports claiming China continues to provide military support to Iran and purchase sanctioned oil, Trump acknowledged that Xi has been “relatively good” in their relations. He noted, “They get a lot of their oil from that region. We haven’t had any issues, and he’s been a friend of mine. We get along well.”
