Trump and Xi Jinping Discuss Military Aid and Strait of Hormuz

On Thursday, during meetings in Beijing, President Donald Trump revealed that Chinese President Xi Jinping is committed to not supplying military equipment to Iran. Xi also showed interest in keeping the Strait of Hormuz open for navigation.

This announcement emerged from a summit where the two leaders talked about several pressing issues, such as the conflict in Iran, trade relations, technology, and the situation in Taiwan.

“He made a clear statement about not giving us military equipment. It’s significant. He emphasized this today and acknowledged that China wants to keep buying oil from Iran,” Trump shared in an interview. “Xi wants the Strait of Hormuz to remain open,” he added.

While China has repeatedly denied sending weapons to Iran, reports from U.S. officials indicate that Chinese companies might be discussing potential arms sales and are thinking about using third countries for shipments.

When asked about military assistance to Iran in late April, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang noted, “We’ve addressed these questions many times and reject any dissemination of false information.”

Despite the denials regarding arms sales, Chinese officials characterized the summit with Xi as a “constructive meeting” and a significant move forward.

According to White House officials, “Both sides affirmed that the Strait of Hormuz should remain open to ensure the free flow of energy. Xi made it clear that China opposes any militarization of the Strait and the imposition of fees for its use. Additionally, he expressed interest in acquiring more U.S. oil to lessen dependence on the Strait in future endeavors. Both sides also agreed that it is absolutely crucial to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.”