Trump Demanded China Cease Support for Iran, Ambassador Says
US envoy states President Trump made it clear to Xi Jinping that any aid to Tehran was 'totally unacceptable.'
President Donald Trump directly informed Chinese President Xi Jinping that China's support for Iran was "totally unacceptable," according to US Ambassador David Perdue.
Perdue told CNBC on Friday that Trump conveyed this message to Xi during their recent summit in Washington, D.C., emphasizing that any direct or indirect assistance to Tehran, whether intelligence, parts, or military equipment, would not be tolerated.
Trump later confirmed to reporters that he had indeed made this stance clear to the Chinese leader during their meeting.
China has reportedly provided Iran with significant economic support, including purchasing a substantial portion of its oil exports. Additionally, China is alleged to have supplied Iran with intelligence, such as satellite imagery of a Jordanian air base before a missile strike that resulted in the deaths of three U.S. service members earlier this month.
Regarding the alleged intelligence sharing, Trump acknowledged such activities were reciprocal, stating, "When they say China spies on us, I say, ‘You’re right, and we spy on them too.'"
However, Perdue noted a positive development, observing that "evidence suggests they have listened to us" and "pay attention when President Trump speaks about Iran," indicating some Chinese actions have been scaled back.
This warning from Trump to Xi followed reports of mediation efforts involving US special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. These discussions with Iranian officials reportedly led to a proposed phased peace plan. The initial phase of this proposal would involve lifting the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports in exchange for Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
A U.S. official described the ongoing discussions as "positive and constructive," though did not confirm the specific details of the peace proposal. The official emphasized the U.S. position of strength, particularly its control over the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting no immediate rush to finalize any agreement. The official also pointed out the significant volume of oil passing through the strait in the preceding 48 hours, implying that Iran's influence over this critical energy route may be diminishing.
