U.S. President Donald Trump has said his patience with Iran is “running out,” following high-level talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, where both leaders reportedly agreed that the Islamic Republic must not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon and should reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking after the second day of discussions covering Iran, Taiwan, trade, and global security issues, Trump said the two leaders had “settled a lot of different problems that other people wouldn’t have been able to solve.”
Tensions surrounding Iran have escalated sharply after the country effectively restricted access to the Strait of Hormuz in response to earlier U.S.-Israeli military actions that began on February 28, causing major disruptions to global energy supply chains. China, a key buyer of Iranian oil, has been directly affected by the situation.
The United States reportedly paused direct strikes on Iran last month but intensified pressure by imposing a blockade on Iranian ports. Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have stalled, with Tehran maintaining that its nuclear program is peaceful and refusing to dismantle its stockpile of enriched uranium.
Iran, however, denies any intention of developing nuclear weapons.
Chinese President Xi did not publicly comment on the private discussions with Trump regarding Iran, but China’s foreign ministry issued a strongly worded statement expressing concern over the ongoing conflict, saying, “This conflict, which should never have happened, has no reason to continue.”
Trump, in a separate interview on Fox News’ “Hannity,” warned that U.S. patience was limited, adding that Iran should reach a diplomatic agreement soon.
On the issue of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, Trump suggested that U.S. interest in securing it may be driven more by public relations considerations than operational necessity.
Following the talks, the White House said both leaders agreed on the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open to global shipping. It also noted that Xi expressed opposition to any militarisation or toll charges in the waterway, which Iran has previously threatened.
Trump further claimed that Xi pledged not to provide Iran with military equipment, a statement he described as significant for regional stability.
The White House also indicated that Xi showed interest in increasing purchases of American oil, potentially reducing China’s reliance on the Strait of Hormuz in the future.
