Trump says Xi Jinping pledged not to give military equipment to Iran
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
President Donald Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping said he would not provide military equipment to Iran, which became the focus of a high-stakes meeting that hinted at a possible victory for the Trump administration.
“Xi said he wouldn’t give away military equipment. That’s a big statement. He said that today. That’s a big statement. He said that forcefully,” Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity on Thursday. he said.
The pledge comes as the Trump administration increasingly views China not just as an economic rival but also as a key backer of hostile regimes, and as Beijing’s economic and material support for Iran has become a central focus of high-stakes talks with Xi this week.
U.S. officials increasingly accuse China of helping bolster Iran’s military and economic might through oil purchases, dual-use exports and intermediary networks.
TRUMP TO MEET XI AT HIGH-SUMMIT SUMMIT ON CHINA’S SUPPORT TO IRAN AND RUSSIA
Trump added that Xi also offered to help end the conflict.
“He said, ‘If I can be of any help, I want to help,'” Trump said.
“Xi said he would not give military equipment. That’s a big statement. He said that today. That’s a big statement. He said that forcefully,” Trump said. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)
The White House and the Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
“But they also get most of their oil from there, and they want to continue doing that. He wants to see the Strait of Hormuz opened,” Trump said. “I said, we didn’t stop it. They did it.”
TRUMP HEADS TO BEIJING FOR HIGHLY SEVERE XI TALKS AS TAIWAN TENSIONS AND TRADE DISPUTES TEST US POWER
China relies heavily on Iranian oil imports to purchase approximately $31 billion to $32 billion of Iranian crude oil annually, according to Reuters.
President Donald Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping said he would not provide military equipment to Iran. (Pool Photo via Kenny Holston/AP)
Beijing in May ordered firms to ignore US sanctions targeting Iranian oil; this was a direct challenge to Washington’s pressure.
China’s Ministry of Commerce has enacted a 2021 “blocking law” that prevents companies from complying with “illegitimate” foreign sanctions ahead of the summit. The order targets several Chinese refiners accused by the United States of buying Iranian crude, including large independent processors known as “teapot” refiners.
CHINA DARES TO APPLY PRESSURE ON US BY ORDERING COMPANIES TO IGNORE US SANCTIONS ON IRAN
“He didn’t like the fact that they were charging tolls,” Trump said. “I don’t know if it is or not. I don’t know who is going to pay it. I mean, where do they put the money that comes to the countries that are destroyed, you know, where the money goes, they charge tolls,” Trump said.
President Donald Trump said he believes an agreement will be reached at the end of the trip with China buying oil from the United States. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)
Trump said he believed that an agreement would be reached at the end of the trip with China buying oil from the United States, which led to an increase in oil prices.
“They’re going to go to Texas. We’re going to start sending Chinese ships to Texas, Louisiana and Alaska. I think that was another thing that was agreed upon. That’s a big thing,” Trump said.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
In their last meeting before Trump’s return to the White House, the two leaders held a bilateral tea meeting at the Zhongnanhai campus in Beijing on Friday morning local time.
Fox News’ Morgan Phillips and Greg Wehner contributed to this report.
