Trump says Xi agreessays Xi agrees Iran must open strait
US President Donald Trump said on May 16 that Chinese leader Xi Jinping agreed Iran must keep the Strait of Hormuz open, as Washington and Beijing discussed the conflict.
China did not confirm Xi’s view and instead said the war should never have started, while separate reporting said US and Iranian talks were stalling over reopening the waterway.
The dispute matters because the strait is a critical oil route and any prolonged closure could tighten global energy supplies and raise the risk of wider conflict.
US Perspective
Washington portrays keeping the Strait of Hormuz open as urgent because it protects global shipping and energy flows. Trump also linked the crisis to Iran’s nuclear programme, suggesting the standoff is part of a broader security challenge.
Chinese Perspective
Beijing said the war should never have started and should not continue, but it did not publicly confirm Trump’s account of Xi’s position. China is presenting itself as opposed to escalation while avoiding a direct public confrontation over the details of the call.
Iranian Perspective
Tehran is being pressed to restore normal traffic through the strait while also facing US demands tied to its nuclear programme. The stalling talks suggest Iran is trying to hold leverage as it weighs how far to go in any de-escalation.
- The Strait of Hormuz is only about 33 kilometres wide at its narrowest point.
- China imports large volumes of oil from the Gulf, making the strait strategically important for Beijing.
- The word Hormuz comes from the historic port and island that long served as a trading hub.
US-Iran Ceasefire War
The United States launched military strikes against Iran on June 26, 2026, in response to a drone attack on a commercial cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a "foolish violation" of the 60-day ceasefire agreement signed just days earlier[2][4][14].
26 June, 09:35 PM
US launches strikes against Iran following commercial ship attack26 June, 04:47 PM
Trump calls Iran drone attack on cargo ship a ceasefire violation
