Trump says he and China's Xi agree Iran cannot have nuclear weapons

U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping had agreed Iran cannot be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon and must reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported.

Trump made the remarks after two days of talks with Xi in Beijing covering the Iran war, Taiwan, trade and other issues. "I am not going to be much more patient," Trump said of Iran. "They should make a deal."

What did Trump and Xi agree on regarding Iran's nuclear program?

Trump and Xi agreed that Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon and that the Strait of Hormuz must reopen to international shipping.

The White House said Xi also made clear China's opposition to the militarization of the waterway and any attempt to charge a toll for its use. Xi pledged not to supply Iran with military equipment, a commitment Trump described as significant.

Why has diplomacy with Iran stalled?

Talks aimed at ending the conflict have been on hold since last week, when Iran and the U.S. each rejected the other's most recent proposals.

Iran has refused to end its nuclear program or surrender its stockpile of enriched uranium, though Tehran denies any intention to build a nuclear weapon. Iran is seeking the lifting of sanctions, reparations for war damage, and formal acknowledgment of its control over the strait.

On the uranium stockpile specifically, Trump suggested U.S. possession of it mattered more for optics than security. "I don't think it's necessary except from a public relations standpoint," he told Fox News' Hannity program Thursday night.

Iran effectively closed the strait to most shipping in response to U.S.-Israeli attacks that began on February 28, causing unprecedented disruption to global energy supplies.

What is China's position on the Iran war?

Xi did not publicly comment on his Iran discussions with Trump, but China's foreign ministry issued a direct statement reflecting Beijing's frustration. "This conflict, which should never have happened, has no reason to continue," the ministry said. Xi also expressed interest in purchasing more American oil to reduce China's future dependence on the strait.

China is Iran's closest strategic partner and primary oil buyer, giving Beijing meaningful leverage over Tehran. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC on Thursday that he believed China would "do what they can" to help reopen the waterway, calling it "very much in their interest." Before the war, roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies passed through the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump is keen to secure Chinese support before U.S. midterm elections in November, as the prolonged conflict has become an electoral liability. Analysts, however, doubt Xi will press Iran hard or cut military support, given Tehran's value as a strategic counterweight to U.S. influence in the region.

What shipping incidents have occurred near the Strait of Hormuz?

An Indian cargo vessel carrying livestock from Africa to the UAE was sunk Wednesday in waters off Oman's coast. India condemned the attack and confirmed all 14 crew members had been rescued. British maritime security firm Vanguard assessed the vessel was struck by a missile or drone.

Separately, British maritime agency UKMTO reported Thursday that unauthorized personnel had boarded a ship anchored off the UAE port of Fujairah and were steering it toward Iran. Vanguard said a company security officer reported the vessel was taken by Iranian personnel while at anchor. Fujairah is the UAE's only oil port on the Gulf of Oman, positioned just outside the strait, enabling some shipments to bypass the chokepoint entirely.

What is the military and humanitarian situation in the conflict?

Thousands of Iranians were killed in U.S. and Israeli airstrikes during the opening weeks of the war, and thousands more have died in Lebanon since the conflict reignited fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah. A senior U.S. admiral told a Senate committee Thursday that Iran's ability to threaten its neighbors and U.S. regional interests had been "significantly degraded." Admiral Brad Cooper declined to directly address reports that Iran had retained significant missile and drone capabilities.

Talks between Lebanese and Israeli officials in Washington on Thursday were described as productive by a senior State Department official, with further discussions expected Friday.

Trump has said his aims in starting the war were to destroy Iran's nuclear program, end its capacity to attack neighbors, and make it easier for Iranians to overthrow their government. Iran's rulers, who used force to suppress anti-government protests earlier in the year, have faced no organized domestic opposition since the war began.