SouthernWorldwide.com – President Donald Trump disclosed that Chinese President Xi Jinping has assured him that China will not supply military equipment to Iran. This statement comes amid heightened tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz and could signify a diplomatic success for the Trump administration.
This commitment from China is particularly significant as the Trump administration has increasingly identified Beijing not just as an economic competitor, but also as a supporter of adversarial nations. China’s economic and material aid to Iran has become a focal point of the crucial discussions between Presidents Trump and Xi.
U.S. officials have been vocal in their accusations that China has been instrumental in bolstering Iran’s military and economic capabilities. This support, they claim, is channeled through oil purchases, the export of dual-use technologies, and the utilization of intermediary networks.
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President Trump further stated that President Xi expressed a willingness to assist in resolving the ongoing conflict.
“He said, if I can be of any help at all, I would like to be of help,” Trump remarked.
“But at the same time, he said, you know, they buy a lot of their oil there, and they’d like to keep doing that. He’d like to see Hormuz Strait opened,” Trump elaborated. “I said, well, we didn’t stop it. They did it.”
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China is a major consumer of Iranian oil, with annual purchases reportedly ranging between $31 billion and $32 billion, according to Reuters.
In May, Beijing instructed its companies to disregard U.S. sanctions targeting Iranian oil exports, a move that directly challenged Washington’s enforcement efforts.
Prior to the summit, China’s Ministry of Commerce invoked a “blocking statute” from 2021. This regulation prohibits Chinese companies from adhering to what it deems “illegitimate” foreign sanctions. The directive specifically targets several Chinese refiners, including large independent processors known as “teapot” refineries, which the U.S. has accused of purchasing Iranian crude.
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“He didn’t like the fact that they’re charging tolls,” Trump commented. “I don’t know if they are or not. I don’t know who would pay him. I mean, where do they put the money to come to countries decimated, you know, they’re charging tolls where’s the money going,” Trump added.
Trump expressed his belief that an agreement would be reached by the conclusion of the trip for China to purchase oil from the United States, a prospect that led to an increase in oil prices.
“They’re going to go to Texas. We’re going to start sending Chinese ships to Texas and to Louisiana and to Alaska. And I think that was another thing that was agreed to it. That’s a big thing,” Trump stated.
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The two leaders engaged in a bilateral tea meeting on Friday morning local time in Beijing. The meeting took place at the Zhongnanhai compound, marking their final discussion before President Trump’s departure for the White House.
