Donald Trump on Wednesday claimed that China has agreed not to supply weapons to Iran, saying he received assurances directly from President Xi Jinping.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he had raised the issue with Xi and linked the development to his efforts to keep the crucial Strait of Hormuz open amid escalating regional tensions.
“China is very happy that I am permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz… They have agreed not to send weapons to Iran,” Trump wrote, adding that Xi would “give me a big, fat hug” during an upcoming visit.
Letter Exchange Claim
Speaking earlier to Fox Business, Trump said he had written to Xi urging him to halt any arms supplies to Iran, and claimed the Chinese leader responded denying such transfers.
“I wrote him a letter asking him not to do that, and he wrote me a letter saying that essentially he’s not doing that,” Trump said.
Pressure Campaign Intensifies
The comments come as the Trump administration steps up pressure on countries it believes are supporting Iran militarily. Trump recently warned that nations supplying weapons to Tehran could face economic penalties, including tariffs of up to 50%.
He also defended recent US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, claiming they had stalled Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
“They would have had a nuclear weapon within weeks,” Trump said, while criticising the 2015 nuclear deal brokered under Barack Obama.
No Official Confirmation Yet
While Trump expressed confidence that Gulf nations would avoid further escalation, there has been no official confirmation from Beijing regarding his claims. The remarks underscore a mix of diplomatic outreach and pressure tactics as tensions in the region continue to simmer.
Comments are closed.