Trump stated that Xi offered "help" with Iran
Kyiv • UNN
During the negotiations, the Chinese leader offered Trump assistance in settling relations with Iran. Beijing advocates for the opening of the Strait of Hormuz.
President Donald Trump stated that Chinese leader Xi Jinping offered to help resolve the conflict between the US and Iran during their talks on Thursday, UNN reports citing CNN.
Details
The publication notes that China maintains close ties with Iran and is the number one consumer of Iranian oil.
"President Xi would like to see a deal. He would, he would like to see a deal. And he made an offer. He said, 'If I can help in any way, I'd like to help,'" Trump told Fox News' Sean Hannity in an interview recorded after the first of two days of high-stakes talks.
Trump added: "He would like to see the Strait of Hormuz opened."
The US President was expected to urge China to pressure Iran into accepting a peace deal and opening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil artery that has been largely closed during the war. A US report on the meeting stated that China agreed the strait "must remain open" and that China opposes the militarization and charging of fees for the strait, which largely aligns with China's previous statements.
Context
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a separate interview with NBC News on Thursday, stated that the US did not ask China for help and that "we don't need their help."
"We raised the issue to make our position clear and to let them know, because it's logical that we would talk about it given how dominant an issue it is," Rubio told NBC.