US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed the ongoing Middle East conflict during their summit on Friday, as Iran proposed a seven-day plan aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and halting regional hostilities. The talks took place in Washington amid heightened tensions that have disrupted critical oil shipping lanes.
China, which relies heavily on Middle Eastern oil, has been affected by Iranian threats and the activities of Iranian-aligned Houthi forces controlling strategic points in the Red Sea. Xi called on both the United States and Iran to return to the framework agreement established in June, which had briefly paused fighting, and to renew negotiations toward a broader resolution, according to China’s state news agency.
The US ambassador to China reported that Trump warned Xi against supporting Iran during the discussions and received assurances that China would not provide such aid. Xi’s three-day state visit concluded as diplomatic efforts intensified, coinciding with the United Nations General Assembly, where Iran and the United States engaged in indirect talks via Qatari intermediaries.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi outlined Tehran’s proposal, stating that if the US accepts the plan, normal maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz could resume within seven days. Iran offered to end hostilities on all fronts, including in Lebanon, in exchange for the lifting of the US blockade on Iranian ports, release of frozen Iranian assets, and suspension of oil sanctions.
Washington has yet to issue a formal response, though a US official acknowledged ongoing “positive and constructive discussions” concerning nuclear issues through mediators. Araqchi indicated that acceptance of the plan could pave the way for broader negotiations on mutually agreed topics.
However, a senior Iranian official emphasized that Tehran would maintain its nuclear program rights under no circumstances, including uranium enrichment and the retention of highly enriched uranium domestically. This stance contrasts with Trump’s commitment that Iran will not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.
The conflict, which began on February 28 following US and Israeli military strikes, has seen alternating periods of relative calm and intensified violence, resulting in thousands of casualties and significant damage to Iran’s conventional military capabilities and economy. Iran and its allies have extended the conflict by targeting US partners throughout the region, including drone and missile attacks on Gulf countries and strikes on Saudi oil infrastructure attributed to Iranian-aligned militias in Iraq.
The seven-day proposal represents the latest attempt to resolve the conflict that has threatened global energy supplies and drawn in major powers seeking to stabilize the volatile region.