Trump-Xi Summit Focuses on Reopening the Strait of Hormuz

U.S. President Donald Trump returned from a two-day Beijing summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, saying both leaders agreed the Strait of Hormuz must be reopened to restore energy flow. He added he would decide within days whether to lift U.S. sanctions on Chinese firms buying Iranian oil.

CNBCFEATURE | Pressure mounts on Iran as Trump and Xi find common ground on HormuzABC Denver 7 KMGH

The war began on 28 February after U.S. and Israeli airstrikes killed senior Iranian officials. Iran closed the strait, a chokepoint that carried about one-fifth of global oil and LNG, pushing U.S. gasoline above $4.50 per gallon and Brent crude to $108-$109 per barrel.

Trump Says China Offered Help on Iran

Reopening the waterway would ease global energy shortages, lower U.S. fuel prices, and relieve political pressure on Trump before the November midterms. Chinese diplomatic leverage could be decisive, and a U.S. sanctions decision may reshape Iran’s oil market.

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Trump said Xi “would like to see it end” and opposed militarizing the strait; Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said it is “very much in their interest to get the strait reopened”; Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi voiced hope for a “good conclusion” to secure passage; the Chinese foreign ministry called the war “should never have happened” and urged dialogue.

Trump Says Patience With Iran ‘Running Out’ After Xi Talks on Hormuz

Former NATO ambassador Ivo Daalder warned that “He’s tried bluster… He’s tried negotiations…” reflecting frustration with the mixed diplomatic-military strategy.

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Chinese officials have not confirmed a pledge to pressure Tehran, and state media omitted any mention of the strait, while U.S. officials cite a verbal assurance from Xi. Estimates of China’s share of Iranian oil range from 10 % of China’s crude imports to 90 % of Iran’s exports.

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• “He would like to see it end. He would like to help. If he wants to help, that’s great. But we don’t need help,” — Donald Trump, Fox News interview.

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• “He’s tried bluster, that didn’t work. He’s tried negotiations, that’s hasn’t worked,” — Ivo Daalder, former NATO ambassador.

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• “I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation. I don’t think about anybody. I think about one thing: We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. That’s all. That’s the only thing that motivates me,” — Donald Trump, Air Force One briefing.

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• “It's very much in their interest to get the strait reopened,” — Scott Bessent, U.S. Treasury Secretary.

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• “We hope that, with the advancement of negotiations, we will reach a good conclusion so that the Strait of Hormuz can be completely secured and we can expedite the normalization of traffic through the strait,” — Abbas Araqchi, Iranian Foreign Minister.

Trump Says Patience With Iran ‘Running Out’ After Xi Talks on Hormuz

• “There is no point in continuing this conflict, which should not have happened in the first place,” — Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson.

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The White House said a decision on lifting sanctions on Chinese oil firms will be made within days; Beijing will continue behind-the-scenes diplomatic outreach, while the U.S. maintains its naval blockade of Iranian ports. Ongoing ceasefire talks and the November midterms will shape the diplomatic calculus.

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