U.S. President Donald Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed that Iran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz, although Beijing stopped short of publicly confirming it would pressure Tehran over the strategic waterway.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday after concluding two days of talks in Beijing, Trump said he and Xi had discussed the worsening crisis in the Gulf and the disruption of global energy supplies caused by the closure of the strait.
The U.S. president suggested China could play a role in convincing Iran to restore maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors linking Gulf oil producers to international markets.
“I’m not asking for any favors because when you ask for favors, you have to do favors in return,” Trump said when questioned about whether Xi had made a firm commitment to intervene with Tehran.
While Xi did not publicly comment on the reported discussions regarding Iran, China’s Foreign Ministry expressed concern over the ongoing conflict, describing it as a war “which should never have happened” and one that “has no reason to continue.”
The Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies previously passed, has remained effectively closed since Iran halted maritime traffic following U.S. and Israeli military strikes launched on February 28.
The disruption has triggered what analysts describe as the most severe oil supply shock in modern history, driving crude prices sharply higher and intensifying fears over global inflation and economic instability.
Oil prices rose by around 3% on Friday to nearly $109 per barrel amid mounting concerns that diplomatic efforts to end the crisis remain stalled, while U.S. Treasury yields climbed to their highest levels in roughly a year.
The United States suspended its direct military strikes against Iran last month but imposed a naval and port blockade, prompting Tehran to insist that the Strait of Hormuz would not fully reopen unless Washington lifts the restrictions.
Standing alongside Xi in Beijing, Trump reiterated that Washington’s main objective was preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons while ensuring the restoration of global shipping routes.
“We don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon, we want the straits open,” Trump said during the visit.
Iran has consistently denied seeking to develop nuclear weapons, though the Trump administration has continued pressing Tehran to halt uranium enrichment activities and dismantle what Washington describes as hidden nuclear capabilities.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had received messages from Washington indicating the United States remained interested in continuing negotiations despite recent military escalation.
Speaking in New Delhi, Araqchi said Iran hoped diplomatic talks could eventually secure the complete reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and allow shipping traffic to return to normal conditions.
He also signaled that Tehran would welcome Chinese involvement in diplomatic efforts, while stressing that Iran remained skeptical of Washington after previous negotiation rounds were interrupted by military strikes.
The crisis has increasingly placed China at the center of geopolitical calculations surrounding Iran, as Beijing remains the largest buyer of Iranian oil and one of Tehran’s most important economic partners, while the United States continues seeking leverage over both energy flows and nuclear negotiations ahead of politically sensitive congressional elections later this year.
