BEIJING/DUBAI: U.S. President Donald Trump said he and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed during talks in Beijing that Iran should not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons, as tensions over the conflict in the Gulf continue to disrupt global energy supplies and regional security.
Speaking after a second day of U.S.-China summit discussions on Friday, Trump said both leaders also discussed the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route affected by the ongoing Iran conflict. The talks covered Iran, Taiwan, trade relations and regional security issues.
“We don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon, we want the straits open,” Trump told reporters in Beijing.
China, the largest buyer of Iranian oil, has called for an end to the conflict but has not publicly indicated whether it will pressure Tehran to change its position. In a statement issued after the meeting, China’s foreign ministry said the conflict “should never have happened” and “has no reason to continue.”
Strait of Hormuz tensions affect global shipping
Iran effectively restricted most shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz after U.S.-Israeli attacks began on February 28, causing major disruptions to global oil, liquefied natural gas and fertilizer shipments.
The United States later paused direct attacks on Iran but imposed a blockade on Iranian ports. Tehran has said it will not reopen the strait fully unless the blockade is lifted.
Before the conflict, roughly one-fifth of global oil and LNG trade passed through the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump said Xi opposed the militarisation of the waterway and any Iranian effort to impose tolls on vessels using the route. He also said Xi pledged not to supply Iran with military equipment, although Beijing has previously dismissed such allegations as unfounded.
Iran rejects pressure over nuclear programme
Iran has repeatedly denied seeking to build nuclear weapons but has refused calls to halt its nuclear activities or surrender enriched uranium stockpiles.
Trump said his administration’s patience with Tehran was limited and urged Iran to reach an agreement with Washington.
The war and continuing instability in the Gulf region have become a growing political issue ahead of U.S. midterm elections scheduled for November.
Iranian military chief Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi Hatami said Iran’s armed forces would continue defending the country “until the last drop of blood,” according to Iranian state media.
Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, including mediation led by Pakistan, have stalled after Tehran and Washington rejected each other’s latest proposals last week.
Lebanon ceasefire talks continue
The conflict has also intensified tensions in Lebanon, where fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group resumed during the broader regional escalation.
Talks involving Lebanese and Israeli officials continued on Friday ahead of the expected expiration of a fragile ceasefire agreement on Sunday. According to a senior U.S. State Department official, discussions held on Thursday were productive.
Israel is seeking Hezbollah’s disarmament as part of the negotiations, while Hezbollah has publicly opposed the talks.
Meanwhile, maritime security concerns in the Gulf continued to grow after an Indian livestock vessel sank off Oman’s coast and reports emerged that Iranian forces boarded a ship near the UAE port of Fujairah.
The United Arab Emirates said it would accelerate construction of a pipeline linked to Fujairah to expand oil export routes that bypass the Strait of Hormuz.
Also read: Xi warns Trump Taiwan tensions could trigger dangerous conflict
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