Washington urged Beijing to step up diplomacy regarding Iran ahead of the Trump-Xi summit
Kyiv • UNN
Scott Bessent urged Beijing to use diplomacy to unblock the Strait of Hormuz. The issue will be discussed by Trump and Xi Jinping at the summit in Beijing.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday called on China to step up diplomatic efforts to persuade Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping, adding that U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will discuss the issue at a meeting next week, UNN reports, citing Reuters.
Details
"China, let's see them step up the diplomatic efforts and persuade the Iranians to open the strait," Bessent said during a live broadcast of "America's Newsroom" on Fox News Channel.
Bessent stated that China purchases 90% of Iranian energy resources, meaning they are financing the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism.
He urged China to "join us in this international operation" to open the strait, but did not specify what actions Beijing should take. He added that China and Russia must stop blocking initiatives at the United Nations, such as a resolution calling for measures to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Over the weekend, China intensified its opposition to U.S. sanctions against Chinese refineries over the purchase of Iranian oil.
China's Ministry of Commerce ordered companies not to comply with U.S. sanctions on five independent refineries, including the recently blacklisted Hengli Petrochemical, marking the first time it has invoked a law that allows Beijing to take retaliatory measures against entities that enforce sanctions it deems illegal.
China orders to ignore US sanctions against five refineries02.05.26, 21:44 • 4143 views
Bessent said that Trump and Xi Jinping will discuss Iran and exchange views in person during the May 14-15 summit in Beijing. However, he emphasized that both sides would seek to maintain the stable U.S.-China relationship established as a result of the trade truce in October.
"There is a high degree of stability in our relationship, and that, again, is a result of the deep respect between the two leaders," he said.
Bessent stated that the United States has full control over the Strait of Hormuz due to the blockade of Iranian shipping, and that a new U.S. Navy operation to monitor shipping through this strategically important waterway would lead to lower oil prices. He called high fuel prices a "temporary aberration" that would end in a few weeks or months.
"Again, we understand that this short-term price spike affects the American people, but I am also confident that prices will come down after this," Bessent said.