United States President Donald Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed that Iran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz, even as Beijing stopped short of publicly confirming it would pressure Tehran over the strategically vital waterway at the center of the global energy crisis.
Trump made the remarks Friday while returning from Beijing after two days of high-level talks with Xi focused on trade, geopolitics, and the escalating conflict involving Iran.
The U.S. president suggested the issue of the Strait of Hormuz had become one of the key topics during the summit, reflecting growing international concern over disruptions to global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments caused by the ongoing conflict.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said he believed Xi shared Washington’s view that maritime traffic through the narrow Gulf passage must resume normally.
“I’m not asking for any favors because when you ask for favors, you have to do favors in return,” Trump said when asked whether Xi had firmly committed to pressure Iran into reopening the strait.
Although Trump characterized the discussions positively, China did not publicly endorse his description of the talks.
Chinese officials refrained from directly commenting on Trump’s claims regarding Xi’s position on Iran or the Strait of Hormuz.
Instead, China’s Foreign Ministry criticized the broader conflict and called for de-escalation, describing the war as a confrontation “which should never have happened, has no reason to continue.”
The Strait of Hormuz has become the focal point of the world’s largest modern energy supply disruption since fighting erupted after the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran on February 28.
Before the conflict, roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas exports passed through the narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to international markets.
Since then, Iran has effectively tightened control over maritime traffic through the strait, dramatically disrupting energy shipments and triggering severe instability across global commodity markets.
Oil prices have surged to historic levels amid fears of prolonged disruption, while governments and businesses worldwide scramble to adapt to rising fuel costs and growing uncertainty.
Analysts say the closure or restriction of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has had consequences far beyond the Middle East, contributing to inflationary pressure, transportation disruptions, and fears of broader economic slowdown.
China, the world’s largest importer of Iranian crude oil, has emerged as one of the central players in efforts to prevent a prolonged energy crisis.
Trump indicated Friday that Washington was considering whether to ease sanctions on Chinese companies purchasing Iranian oil, potentially using sanctions relief as leverage in broader negotiations.
China’s economic relationship with Iran has become increasingly important since Western sanctions intensified over the past decade.
Beijing has continued buying significant volumes of Iranian oil despite U.S. pressure campaigns, making it one of Tehran’s most important economic partners.
The possibility of Chinese involvement in negotiations surrounding the Strait of Hormuz therefore carries major geopolitical significance.
Iranian officials have also signaled interest in Chinese participation.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran would welcome Chinese input into diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the crisis and restoring normal maritime operations.
“We hope that, with the advancement of negotiations, we will reach a good conclusion so that the Strait of Hormuz can be completely secured and we can expedite the normalisation of traffic through the strait,” Araqchi told reporters during a visit to New Delhi.
At the same time, Tehran continues to insist it does not trust Washington.
Iranian leaders accuse the United States of repeatedly undermining negotiations through military escalation, including the air strikes launched earlier this year.
Trump, meanwhile, has maintained pressure on Iran while alternating between threats and renewed calls for a negotiated settlement.
“We don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon, we want the straits open,” Trump said alongside Xi in Beijing.
Iran has long denied pursuing nuclear weapons, though tensions over its nuclear program remain central to the conflict.
The United States has demanded that Tehran halt uranium enrichment activities and dismantle parts of its nuclear infrastructure as part of any broader agreement.
Iran has refused to abandon nuclear research or surrender its stockpile of enriched uranium, arguing that its program is intended for peaceful purposes.
The standoff has complicated efforts to secure a ceasefire and restore maritime stability.
Talks between Washington and Tehran have remained stalled since last week after both sides rejected each other’s latest proposals.
Trump admitted in a television interview aired Thursday that his patience with Iran was running thin.
“They should make a deal,” he said during an appearance on Fox News’ “Hannity” program.
The diplomatic deadlock comes amid worsening humanitarian and economic consequences across the region.
Thousands of Iranians have reportedly been killed in U.S. and Israeli air strikes since the conflict began.
Thousands more have died in Lebanon during clashes between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.
Although Israel and Lebanon agreed Friday to extend a ceasefire by 45 days, tensions remain high throughout the Middle East.
Iran has also launched retaliatory strikes against Israeli territory, U.S. military bases, and Gulf states during the conflict.
Tehran insists it will not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz unless the United States lifts its blockade on Iranian ports and infrastructure.
The United States paused direct attacks last month but maintained economic and maritime restrictions targeting Iran.
Trump has repeatedly warned that military operations could resume if Tehran refuses to negotiate.
Iranian officials appear increasingly determined to reshape the strategic balance in the Gulf through long-term control over maritime trade routes.
Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament’s national security committee, said Tehran had developed a new mechanism to regulate shipping through the strait.
According to Azizi, the system would establish designated transit routes and specialized services for vessels cooperating with Iran.
He suggested only commercial operators and countries maintaining constructive relations with Tehran would benefit under the arrangement.
Iran also plans to collect fees associated with the new maritime mechanism, signaling ambitions to institutionalize greater influence over one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints.
Observers say Tehran increasingly views the Strait of Hormuz not only as a security issue but also as a long-term economic and geopolitical asset.
The disruption has already begun reshaping global shipping patterns and energy supply chains.
Several countries are reportedly exploring alternative transport routes and maritime arrangements to reduce dependence on the strait.
However, experts warn that no immediate replacement exists for the enormous volume of oil and gas that traditionally flows through Hormuz.
The economic fallout continues to intensify.
Oil prices climbed roughly 3% Friday to around $109 per barrel amid concerns that negotiations were making little progress.
At the same time, U.S. Treasury yields rose to their highest levels in about a year as investors increasingly feared the Federal Reserve might need to raise interest rates further to contain inflation linked to higher energy prices.
Financial markets remain highly sensitive to developments involving the Strait of Hormuz.
Even small shifts in diplomatic rhetoric or military activity have triggered sharp reactions across commodity, currency, and equity markets in recent months.
The conflict has also become a growing political liability for Trump ahead of congressional elections scheduled for November.
Critics argue the war has contributed to rising fuel costs and economic uncertainty at home, while supporters contend the administration is taking a necessary hardline stance against Iran’s regional influence and nuclear ambitions.
The president has attempted to frame the conflict as part of a broader effort to strengthen global security and protect energy supplies.
Still, the prolonged crisis has complicated his foreign policy agenda and intensified debate over U.S. involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts.
China’s role could become increasingly pivotal in determining whether a diplomatic breakthrough becomes possible.
As the largest buyer of Iranian oil and one of the few major powers maintaining strong relations with Tehran, Beijing holds significant leverage.
At the same time, China has carefully avoided becoming directly entangled in the conflict, preferring to position itself publicly as a supporter of dialogue and stability.
Whether Xi is ultimately willing to pressure Iran more forcefully remains unclear.
For now, Beijing appears focused on preserving its strategic relationships while minimizing further disruption to global trade and energy markets.
The coming weeks may determine whether diplomatic efforts can restore normal shipping through the Strait of Hormuz or whether the conflict deepens into a prolonged confrontation with far-reaching consequences for the global economy.
Until then, markets, governments, and energy producers remain on edge as one of the world’s most important maritime corridors remains caught in the center of a dangerous geopolitical crisis.
