US President Trump told Chinese President Xi Jinping during their summit in Washington, DC, that China’s support for Iran in its war against the US was “totally unacceptable,” according to the US ambassador. The warning came as China has bought up 90% of Iran’s oil exports and reportedly supplied satellite images of an air base in Jordan before and after a missile strike that killed three US service members.
The exchange happened at the White House on Thursday, with Trump meeting Xi in person. US Ambassador David Perdue told CNBC that Trump made the warning “very clear again yesterday.” Perdue said weeks ago the US had warned China that direct or indirect support for Tehran was “totally unacceptable.”
Trump’s Warning to Xi
Trump affirmed at the White House that he “did” make that clear in his Thursday meeting with Xi. The meeting came after weeks of tension between the US and Iran, with the Strait of Hormuz at the center of the dispute.
The US has been pushing China to stop supporting Iran in its war against the US. The warning was made public by Perdue, who spoke to CNBC about the summit.
The Satellite Images
China reportedly supplied satellite images earlier this month of an air base in Jordan before and after a missile strike that killed three US service members. The images showed the base before and after the attack.
Trump’s Spy Comment
Trump also made a comment about espionage during the summit. He said on Air Force One: “They basically do what we do. When they say China spies on us, I say, ‘You’re right, and we spy on them too.'”
The comment indicates that the US is not willing to let the issue of espionage go without responding. Trump framed the exchange as mutual, with both sides acknowledging that spying happens on both sides.
Evidence of Listening
Perdue noted progress after the summit. He said: “We have seen evidence that they have listened to us.” He added that “they pulled some things down” and that “We have evidence they pay attention when President Trump speaks about Iran.”
The ambassador’s comments suggest that China has taken some steps in response to the US warning. Whether those steps are enough to change the relationship remains unclear.
The UN Peace Proposal
US special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met Iranian officials at the UN General Assembly. A new purported peace proposal was discussed, to be carried out in phases, according to Reuters and Bloomberg.
The first phase would end the US naval blockade of Iranian ports in exchange for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. A US official said “positive and constructive discussions through the mediators” were occurring.
The Official Line
The US official’s statement that the US is “not in a hurry” suggests that the negotiations could take time. The official added: “The United States is in a very strong position with control of the Strait of Hormuz, so we are not in a hurry.” Almost 40 million barrels of oil have passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the past 48 hours.
Where the paper stands
The paper backs diplomacy and trade channels staying open and is against foreign entanglements that could close them. The peace proposal discussed by US special envoys Kushner and Witkoff with Iranian officials at the UN General Assembly — a purported plan to end the US naval blockade of Iranian ports in exchange for reopening the Strait of Hormuz — fits the paper’s position on keeping lines of communication open.
The reported first phase of that proposal, where the US removes its blockade in exchange for Iran reopening the strait, is a negotiated rather than a confrontational approach. The paper also backs deals over standoffs.
The peace proposal remains unconfirmed. The paper notes that the reported first phase was described by unnamed US officials and should be treated as a report, not a confirmed fact.
Key Facts
- Trump met Xi in Washington, DC, on Thursday
- US Ambassador David Perdue told CNBC the warning was made “very clear again yesterday”
- China has bought up 90% of Iran’s oil exports
- Satellite images of an air base in Jordan were reportedly supplied by China
- Three US service members were killed in the missile strike
- The peace proposal would end the US naval blockade and reopen the Strait of Hormuz
- Almost 40 million barrels of oil have passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the past 48 hours
The Timeline
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Trump meets Xi | Thursday |
| Perdue speaks to CNBC | Friday |
| Kushner and Witkoff meet Iranian officials | UN General Assembly |
| Strait of Hormuz oil flow | Past 48 hours |
The US is in a strong position with control of the strait, so it is not in a hurry. The negotiations are positive but not rushed.
Source material: “Trump told China’s Xi that support for Iran was ‘totally unacceptable’: US ambassador,” the New York Post.
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