During a high-profile summit in Washington, DC, President Donald Trump urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to cease all support for Iran amid the ongoing conflict between Tehran and the United States. According to U.S. Ambassador David Perdue, Trump communicated that any form of direct or indirect assistance to Iran’s war effort, including the provision of intelligence or military equipment, is “totally unacceptable.” Perdue emphasized that the message had been conveyed to China weeks prior and was reiterated during the Thursday meeting.
President Trump confirmed to reporters at the White House that he addressed these concerns directly with Xi. The U.S. accuses China of bolstering Iran through economic means—buying approximately 90% of Iran’s oil exports—and alleged intelligence sharing. Recent reports suggest China provided Tehran with satellite images of a Jordanian airbase before and after a missile strike that killed three American service members. Trump responded to these reports on Air Force One by acknowledging Chinese espionage but noted that the U.S. engages in similar activities.
Perdue noted signs of Chinese responsiveness since the summit, indicating that China has taken some steps to scale back its support for Iran. “We have evidence they pay attention when President Trump speaks about Iran,” Perdue said.
The warnings to China coincide with renewed diplomatic efforts involving U.S. special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, who reportedly met with Iranian officials on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. These discussions have reportedly yielded a phased peace proposal, though U.S. officials have neither confirmed nor detailed the arrangement fully. The initial phase reportedly calls for an end to the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports in exchange for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic maritime passage critical to global oil supplies.
A U.S. official described the ongoing negotiations as “positive and constructive” but underscored Washington’s strong hold over the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting no urgency to rush a settlement. In support of this stance, nearly 40 million barrels of oil have transited the strait in the past 48 hours, raising questions about Iran’s ability to maintain pressure on this key waterway.
Despite these diplomatic overtures, President Trump has expressed skepticism about Iran’s willingness to meet U.S. demands fully. Reports indicate that Trump rejected a seven-day ceasefire proposed by Tehran, which included commitments to lift the blockade and resume negotiations on its nuclear program. According to U.S. officials cited by various outlets, Trump anticipates resuming airstrikes against Iran following the November midterm elections, although the scale and timing of such military action remain unclear.