Trump-Xi Hormuz Agreement
CNBC reported Saturday that U.S. President Donald Trump claimed Chinese President Xi Jinping had privately agreed that Iran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Beijing offered no public confirmation and gave no signal it intends to pressure Tehran.
Trump Returns From Beijing With Mixed Signals on Hormuz
Trump made the claim aboard Air Force One while flying home from a two-day Beijing summit. He also told reporters he was weighing whether to ease U.S. sanctions on Chinese companies purchasing Iranian oil. China is currently Iran’s largest oil customer. When pressed on whether Xi made any firm commitment to lean on Tehran, Trump demurred. He said he was not asking for favors, noting that such requests carry reciprocal obligations.
China’s foreign ministry did not echo Trump’s framing. It described the ongoing conflict as one that “should never have happened” and “has no reason to continue,” stopping well short of any direct call on Iran to act.
Background: A Strait That Once Carried a Fifth of Global Energy
The Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed after the U.S. and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran on February 28. Before the closure, the waterway carried roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. The disruption triggered what analysts have called the most severe oil supply crisis on record, pushing crude prices sharply higher. Oil climbed around 3% on Friday, reaching approximately $109 a barrel, as diplomatic progress stalled. The U.S. has maintained a naval blockade, with 78 commercial vessels redirected and four disabled as of Saturday.
Iran Hints at a Managed Corridor, With Conditions
A senior Iranian parliamentary figure, Ebrahim Azizi, said Tehran had designed a framework to allow commercial traffic through a designated shipping lane. He said the mechanism would be unveiled shortly. Only vessels from countries cooperating with Iran would gain access, and specialized fees would apply. Iran has consistently stated it will not fully reopen the strait until the U.S. lifts its blockade. Tehran also continues to refuse any halt to nuclear enrichment or surrender of its enriched uranium stockpile, despite Washington’s demands. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran had received messages suggesting Washington remained open to negotiations. Pakistan has been serving as a go-between for both sides.
Patience Running Thin as Elections Loom
Trump told Fox News this week that his patience with Tehran was wearing out. The conflict has become a political liability ahead of November’s U.S. congressional elections. Talks collapsed last week after both sides rejected each other’s latest proposals. Thousands of Iranian civilians have died in strikes, and Iran’s judiciary said Saturday it had executed 39 individuals on espionage or terrorism charges linked to the war.
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