Rubio Seeks China’s Help on Iran Conflict

Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that U.S. officials are looking to encourage China to play a “more active role” in addressing the ongoing issues with Iran, coinciding with President Donald Trump’s upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

During a segment on “Hannity” while aboard Air Force One to China, Rubio elaborated on the need for the U.S. to address escalating tensions with Iran. “It’s in their interest to resolve this issue,” he stated. “We are hopeful that we can persuade them to push Iran back from its current actions and ambitions in the Persian Gulf.”

Rubio emphasized that the U.S. has made its arguments to China and expressed hope that these would be convincing. He mentioned that China will have a chance to act on this issue at the upcoming United Nations meeting.

He pointed out that despite China’s strategic partnership with Iran, it is in Beijing’s best interest to assist the U.S. on Iranian matters, as Chinese vessels are currently stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, creating additional strain on China’s economy. This situation could provide an avenue for China to condemn Iran’s activities at the U.N. “China’s economy relies heavily on exports,” he noted, suggesting that Iran’s actions could hurt China’s trade.

He added, “The economy is collapsing due to this Straits crisis,” warning that if countries stop purchasing Chinese goods, it would significantly impact China’s exports.

This meeting marks the first interaction between Trump and Xi since Trump’s visit to China nearly a decade ago. Rubio also commented on the need for the U.S. to balance its foreign policy with China, recognizing it as both a significant challenge and a critical relationship to sustain global stability.

“Our interests will inevitably clash, but we must manage these conflicts to prevent war and maintain peace,” he remarked.

Interestingly, China bypassed its sanctions to allow Rubio to attend ahead of the high-stakes summit, despite having previously banned him for his criticism of the Chinese government’s human rights issues.

During their two-day summit, Trump and Xi are set to discuss various important topics, including artificial intelligence, Taiwan, and trade, while tensions with Iran remain high. Rubio stated that while Trump aims to cooperate wherever possible, he will continue to uphold key American demands, particularly the denuclearization of Iran.

“There are critical areas that need addressing, and the president is committed to raising these issues,” he concluded. “There could be opportunities for cooperation, and we want to ensure that we don’t lose sight of them.”