Trump says he doesn't need China's help on Iran as Tehran tightens Hormuz grip

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he does not expect to need China's help to end the war with Iran, even as peace deal hopes faded and Tehran tightened its grip over the Strait of Hormuz., Reuters reported.

Trump made the remarks ahead of a high-stakes summit in Beijing with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The strait, largely closed since hostilities began, normally handles one-fifth of the world's oil supply.

Does Trump need China's help to end the Iran war?

Trump said he does not expect to need China's involvement to resolve the conflict. "I don't think we need any help with Iran. We'll win it one way or the other, peacefully or otherwise," he told reporters.

He is still expected to discuss the war with Xi during meetings scheduled for Thursday and Friday, and to encourage Beijing to pressure Tehran toward a deal.

How is Iran tightening its control over the Strait of Hormuz?

Iran has moved to firm up its hold over the Strait of Hormuz by striking deals with Iraq and Pakistan to ship oil and liquefied natural gas from the region, according to sources with knowledge of the matter.

Other countries are exploring similar arrangements, sources said, in a move that could normalize Tehran's control of the waterway on a more permanent basis. A Revolutionary Guard official cited by Fars news agency said Iran had expanded its definition of the strait into a zone stretching from the city of Jask in the east to Siri Island in the west.

In Tehran, the Guards held drills described as "centered on preparation to confront the enemy," state TV reported. Brent crude oil futures extended gains, climbing to more than $107 a barrel, as the deadlock left the strait largely closed. US Central Command said the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln was in the Arabian Sea enforcing the US blockade, where it had redirected 65 commercial vessels and disabled four others.

What are Iran's demands to end the war?

More than one month after a tenuous ceasefire took effect, the two sides have made no progress toward ending hostilities. US demands include ending Iran's nuclear program and lifting its grip on the strait.

Iran has responded with demands of its own, including compensation for war damage, the lifting of the US blockade, and an end to the conflict on all fronts, including Lebanon, where US ally Israel is fighting Iran-backed Hezbollah militants.

Trump dismissed Iran's positions as "garbage" on Monday. The Trump administration said on Tuesday that senior US and Chinese officials had agreed last month that no country should be able to charge tolls on traffic through the strait, projecting a degree of consensus ahead of the summit. China, which maintains ties with Iran and remains a major buyer of its oil, did not dispute that characterization.

What is the Iran war costing the US economy?

The Pentagon put the cost of the war at $29 billion, an increase of $4 billion from an estimate provided late last month. An official told lawmakers the revised figure included updated equipment repair and replacement costs alongside broader operational expenses.

The Labor Department said earlier on Tuesday that US consumer inflation continued to accelerate in April, with the annual rate posting its largest gain in three years, driven by surging food prices, rising rental costs, and higher airfares.

Trump said Americans' financial struggles had no influence on his thinking on the Iran war. Asked by a reporter to what extent economic pain was motivating him to strike a deal, he said: "Not even a little bit." The remarks drew scrutiny from critics as cost-of-living concerns remain a top issue for voters ahead of the November midterm elections.

How unpopular is the Iran war with American voters?

Surveys show the Iran war is unpopular with US voters less than six months before nationwide elections that will determine whether Trump's Republican Party retains control of Congress.

Two out of three Americans, including one in three Republicans and almost all Democrats, think Trump has not clearly explained why the country went to war, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Monday. Iranian officials, meanwhile, remained defiant as diplomatic efforts stalled.