President Donald Trump revealed Thursday that Chinese President Xi Jinping assured him China will not provide military equipment to Iran, describing the pledge as a major breakthrough in their high-level talks in Beijing. Speaking with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Trump called Xi’s statement “a big statement” and emphasized that the Chinese leader made his position clear during discussions.
Trump said Xi also offered assistance in helping end the ongoing conflict involving Iran. “He said, if I can be of any help at all, I would like to be of help,” Trump explained. The announcement comes as the Trump administration has increasingly framed China not just as an economic competitor, but also as a strategic enabler of adversarial regimes, citing concerns over Iranian oil purchases and military support networks.
The two leaders also discussed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route for global energy markets. Trump noted that Xi expressed a desire to ensure traffic flows freely through the corridor, which has been a point of tension amid regional instability. China relies heavily on Iranian oil imports, purchasing roughly $31–$32 billion of crude annually, even as Washington has pushed for stricter sanctions on Tehran.
Trump further claimed that part of the ongoing discussion involved potential U.S.–China energy agreements. He indicated that Chinese ships could soon be buying oil from Texas, Louisiana, and Alaska, a move he called “another big thing” that could influence global energy markets. These talks come amid broader efforts to negotiate trade deals and rebalance economic ties between the two nations.
The bilateral meeting concluded with a private tea session Friday morning at Beijing’s Zhongnanhai compound, marking the final discussion before Trump’s return to Washington. Both leaders reportedly sought to highlight areas of cooperation while navigating complex geopolitical tensions involving Iran, trade, and energy markets, signaling that economic and security diplomacy remain top priorities for the U.S.–China relationship.