Donald Trump Warns Xi Jinping That Any Chinese Assistance to Iran Is ‘Totally Unacceptable’
US President Donald Trump explicitly told Chinese President Xi Jinping during recent bilateral discussions in Washington that any Chinese assistance to Iran is 'totally unacceptable'. According to US Ambassador to China David Perdue, the stern message was delivered during candid talks between the two leaders as part of Xi's ongoing state visit.
US President Donald Trump told Chinese President Xi Jinping that any Chinese assistance to Iran would be “totally unacceptable” during their White House meeting, US Ambassador to China David Perdue said on Friday. The issue was raised amid continuing tensions over the Iran conflict and concerns in Washington about possible Chinese support for Tehran.
Donald Trump Raises Concerns With Xi Jinping
Speaking to CNBC, Perdue said Washington had repeatedly communicated its concerns to Beijing about any assistance to Iran. He said the US considers direct or indirect assistance, including intelligence, parts or military equipment, unacceptable. According to Perdue, Trump reiterated the message during his meeting with Xi on Thursday. Donald Trump Welcomes Xi Jinping to White House for State Visit; Here's What They Discussed.
Perdue described the Trump-Xi discussion as candid and said the two leaders were developing a degree of trust while addressing difficult issues in their bilateral relationship.
US Says No Direct Evidence of Chinese Support
Perdue said Washington believes there has been some indirect support for Iran, but acknowledged that the US does not have direct evidence showing that China is helping Tehran keep the Strait of Hormuz closed. The ambassador said the US had nevertheless made its concerns clear to Beijing. The Strait of Hormuz has remained a major point of concern because of its importance to global energy supplies and the movement of oil. Why Did Donald Trump Gift Xi Jinping a 3-Foot Bald Eagle Statue? Here’s What It Symbolises.
Iran and Strait of Hormuz Discussed
According to Perdue, Trump and Xi also agreed that Iran should not acquire a nuclear weapon and that the Strait of Hormuz should remain open. The comments came as the Iran conflict and its impact on regional security and energy markets remained key issues in US foreign policy.
China Calls for Negotiations
China's official account of the Trump-Xi meeting presented a different emphasis. Xi urged the United States and Iran to return to negotiations and said Beijing supported resolving the dispute through dialogue. Xi also expressed support for the US and Iran returning to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and ultimately reaching a broader agreement covering the nuclear issue and other matters.
Broader US-China Talks
The Iran conflict was one of several issues discussed by Trump and Xi during the Chinese president’s Washington visit. Their talks also covered trade, artificial intelligence, Ukraine, the Korean Peninsula and broader US-China relations. The latest comments highlight the competing priorities in the US-China relationship, with Washington seeking limits on assistance to Iran while Beijing is publicly calling for negotiations to resolve the conflict.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 25, 2026 08:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
