Xi Jinping told Donald Trump opening Strait of Hormuz is urgent need — Wang Yi

Lead

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have agreed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to support global energy supplies, as tensions over the Iran conflict continue to roil international markets. During their summit in Beijing, Xi also offered to help broker an end to the conflict, according to statements from both leaders and Chinese officials.

China's UN Ambassador Fu Cong has called maintaining the ceasefire and reopening the Strait of Hormuz "urgent" priorities, while Foreign Minister Wang Yi reiterated Beijing's position that dialogue is the only path to resolving the crisis. The developments underscore how Middle East tensions have become intertwined with efforts by Washington and Beijing to steady their broader relationship.

Coverage Comparison

Multiple outlets reported on the Trump-Xi discussions, with consistent accounts of agreement on the importance of keeping the Strait open. Al Jazeera reported that the White House said Xi agreed the waterway "must remain open to support the free flow of energy," while The Guardian quoted Trump saying, "We want the straits open." The South China Morning Post and TASS both emphasised Xi's offer to help resolve the Iran conflict.

Some differences in emphasis emerged across coverage. Al Jazeera also focused on Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urging BRICS nations to condemn what he called the "US-Israel war on Iran," while The Guardian highlighted Trump's offhand remark that the situation in Iran is "a little bit crazy." TASS carried China's official position in detail, quoting Wang Yi's call for continued negotiations and an early reopening of the Strait based on observance of the ceasefire.

Key Claims

Leaders agreed on keeping the Strait of Hormuz open

Trump and Xi discussed Iran during their summit, with both sides agreeing on the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, according to multiple reports. Al Jazeera quoted the White House stating Xi agreed the waterway "must remain open to support the free flow of energy." The Guardian reported Trump saying, "We want the straits open," during his appearance with Xi at Zhongnanhai.

Xi offered to help broker an end to the Iran conflict

In an interview with Fox News, Trump said Xi had offered assistance, saying: "President Xi would like to see a deal made. He would like to see a deal made. And he did offer, he said 'if I can be of any help at all, I would like to be of help.'" This was reported by TASS and other outlets. Trump linked China's interest to its dependence on Middle Eastern energy, noting Beijing buys large volumes of Iranian oil.

China's official position: ceasefire and reopening

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, briefing journalists after Trump's visit, said Xi "outlined China's unwavering position, emphasizing that force does not resolve problems and that dialogue is the only right path." Wang added that China "calls on the US and Iran to continue to resolve disagreements, including the nuclear issue, through negotiations" and advocates for "the early opening of the Strait of Hormuz based on the observance of the ceasefire." This was carried in detail by TASS.

Iran urges BRICS to condemn US and Israel

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told a BRICS meeting in New Delhi that Tehran was a "victim of illegal expansionism and warmongering" and urged member states to condemn the actions of the US and Israel, according to Al Jazeera. He also accused the United Arab Emirates of being "directly involved in the aggression against my country."

Other developments

Chinese media reported that more than 30 ships, including some linked to Chinese companies, were allowed to transit the Strait of Hormuz overnight, signalling Tehran's stance that the waterway is "open to all commercial ships" that cooperate with Iranian naval forces. Hezbollah claimed attacks on Israeli forces, and Israel-Lebanon talks in Washington are facing uncertainty, per Al Jazeera.

Perspectives

Chinese perspective: Beijing frames its role as a mediator, consistently calling for ceasefire, dialogue, and an early reopening of the Strait. Wang Yi stressed that "the door to dialogue is open and should not be closed," and that Beijing will continue to work to reconcile the US and Iran.

US perspective: The White House and Trump emphasise cooperation with China on Iran, with trade representative Jamieson Greer saying the Chinese "don't want to be on the wrong side" on the issue. Secretary of State Marco Rubio initially said the US hoped to convince China to play a more active role, but later downplayed the need for Beijing's help.

Iranian perspective: Tehran demands international condemnation of US-Israeli actions, insists it will "never bow to any pressure," and signals a willingness to allow commercial transit through the Strait under certain conditions, according to Iranian media reports.

International perspective: Analysts quoted by Al Jazeera mention "promise fatigue" regarding US-China summits, suggesting scepticism about tangible outcomes beyond verbal agreements. The Guardian notes speculation about how much pressure Washington is putting on Beijing, the largest buyer of Iranian oil, to use its leverage with Tehran.