Comments made by US President Donald Trump following his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping have fuelled speculation about an undeclared arrangement between Washington and Beijing involving Iran, centred on sanctions relief for Chinese oil firms in exchange for halting Chinese military support to Tehran.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday while returning to Washington from Beijing after talks held on 14 and 15 May, Trump revealed that the United States could lift sanctions imposed on Chinese oil companies purchasing Iranian oil if China refrains from supplying Iran with military equipment.
“I will make a decision within days regarding lifting sanctions on Chinese oil companies that buy Iranian oil,” Trump said.
His remarks came in response to what he described as a commitment from Xi Jinping not to send military equipment to Iran. Trump described the pledge as “a significant statement”.
Xi did not publicly comment on discussions related to Iran, though China’s Foreign Ministry later issued a statement expressing disappointment over the war involving Iran.
China’s oil imports from Iran have been affected since the United States imposed a naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian ports on 13 April. The US Treasury also imposed sanctions on individuals and companies involved in transporting Iranian oil to China.
Convergence Between Washington and Beijing
During his remarks aboard the presidential aircraft, Trump continued portraying the Iranian file as an area of strategic convergence between the United States and China.
He said the Chinese president shares his opposition to Iran obtaining nuclear weapons and also supports reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Extending this narrative further, Trump claimed that the United States and China are “the only two countries capable of removing nuclear dust” from Iran, suggesting what appeared to be a shared monopoly over managing the crisis.
Against the backdrop of this implied alignment with Beijing, Trump appeared to adopt an even tougher tone toward Tehran, declaring that his patience with Iran was running out and insisting that Iran would “never obtain a nuclear weapon under any circumstances”.
At the same time, Trump maintained his familiar balancing act between escalation and limited diplomatic flexibility, saying he would not oppose Iran suspending its nuclear programme for twenty years provided the commitment was genuine and accompanied by an end to the war.
The United States halted its attacks on Iran on 7 April following forty days of conflict, after Pakistani mediation efforts opened space for diplomatic solutions. However, despite several rounds of direct and indirect negotiations, no agreement has been reached.
Trump reportedly reacted angrily to Iran’s latest response to the American proposal during negotiations, saying he refused even to finish reading the document.
“When I looked at the Iranian proposal, I didn’t like the first sentence. It was unacceptable, so I threw it away,” he said.
Trump Hardens His Position
Trump’s statements on Friday reflected a significantly more rigid negotiating posture, bordering on outright rejection of any formula that would allow Iran to retain even a limited nuclear capability.
He stated that he would “not continue reading any Iranian proposal that grants Tehran anything nuclear in any form whatsoever”.
Iran’s response reportedly focused on securing a definitive end to the war that began on 28 February across multiple fronts, particularly in Lebanon. Tehran also demanded compensation for losses caused by the conflict while reaffirming its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran further called on the United States to end the naval blockade imposed on the strait and Iranian ports, provide guarantees against future attacks, lift all economic sanctions and remove restrictions on Iranian oil exports.
Trump had previously argued that Iran’s position undermines the ceasefire agreement in place since 7 April, while signalling the possibility of returning to military action against Tehran, an option strongly pushed by Israel as part of efforts to destroy remaining strategic targets inside Iran.
A Show of Military Force
In a more escalatory tone, Trump shifted toward emphasising overwhelming American military superiority as a direct pressure tool against Tehran.
He claimed the United States could inflict massive destruction inside Iran if no agreement is reached under American terms.
Trump told reporters that 80 per cent of Iran’s missile capabilities had been destroyed by US forces and that Iran’s air force had been “completely eliminated”, including the killing of its commanders. He also claimed that Iranian military manufacturing capabilities had been dismantled.
“We could have destroyed every Iranian bridge and electricity network. We could wipe out everything there within two days,” Trump said.
Despite Trump’s increasingly confrontational rhetoric, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi offered a different reading of the crisis, stating on Friday that Tehran had received American messages indicating Washington remains prepared to continue talks and maintain communication channels.
At the same time, Araghchi said Iran welcomed “any Chinese contribution” to mediation efforts, while stressing that Tehran continues to view the United States with deep distrust. He added that Iran remains open to diplomacy without ruling out a return to confrontation.
