Trump Says Xi Jinping Offered to Mediate Iran Deal, Wants Hormuz Reopening

President Xi Jinping of China and President Donald Trump of the United States greet each other during a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 14, 2026. [Photo=EPA Yonhap]

Donald Trump, the President of the United States, revealed that Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed a willingness to help resolve issues related to Iran. The U.S.-China summit focused on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and China's imports of Iranian oil.
On May 15, Fox News reported that Trump, following his meeting with Xi in Beijing, stated in an interview with Sean Hannity that "President Xi wants to see an agreement reached." He added, "Xi said he would like to help if I can in any way."
Trump also noted that Xi expressed a desire for the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened. He said, "Xi wants the Strait of Hormuz to be open." The strait is a critical passage for oil transport from the Middle East and has become a significant factor in the international energy market due to shipping safety concerns following the Iran conflict.
China's interests were also discussed during the meeting. Trump mentioned that Xi referred to China's imports of Iranian oil, stating, "Xi said China buys a lot of oil from there and wants to continue doing so." This implies that for China to maintain its oil trade with Iran, normalizing passage through the Strait of Hormuz is essential.
Additionally, Trump indicated that the issue of China's military support for Iran was addressed. He stated, "Xi assured that China would not provide military equipment to Iran." Trump described this as a significant statement, noting, "He said it very strongly."
Concerns regarding Iran's potential toll on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz were also raised. Trump reported that "Xi was not pleased with the idea of Iran charging fees to ships." However, he added, "I don’t know if that’s actually happening. Who would pay that money? Where would that money go?"
Trump attributed the disruptions in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to Iran, asserting, "We didn’t block it; they did, and we blocked them."
These comments followed a two-and-a-half-hour U.S.-China summit. The leaders also discussed expanding U.S. access to the Chinese market and addressing the issue of fentanyl precursors entering the United States.

* This article has been translated by AI.

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