Trump Warns Iran as Xi Jinping Pledges Support for Strait of Hormuz

President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed the war with Iran and the security of the Strait of Hormuz during a summit in Beijing. Following the meeting, Trump stated that Xi offered to help negotiate an end to the conflict and ensure the strategic waterway remains open for global shipping, providing a potential pathway for de-escalating a war that has disrupted energy markets.

Trump told Fox News on May 14, 2026, that the Chinese leader expressed a desire to assist in resolving the conflict and reopening the narrow waterway through which approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies pass.

According to Trump, Xi said:

I would love to be a help, if I can be of any help whatsoever. Xi Jinping via Donald Trump

Trump further noted that Xi assured the U.S. Administration that China would not provide military equipment to Iran. While Trump described this as a big statement, the assurance did not address other forms of support, such as electronics exports, intelligence sharing, or the substantial revenues Iran generates through oil sales to Chinese buyers.

The White House confirmed the discussions, stating that Xi agreed the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to support the free flow of energy as tensions over the war continue to affect global markets.

Despite the offer of diplomatic assistance, the Chinese leader’s position appeared carefully calibrated. Trump reported that Xi intended for China to continue buying oil from Iran, even while Beijing opposed any efforts by Tehran to militarize the Strait of Hormuz or effectively toll the waterway.

China maintains a critical economic role in the conflict as the largest buyer of Iranian oil, which serves as a vital financial lifeline for Tehran despite the presence of American sanctions. U.S. Officials have sought to use this leverage to pressure Iran into a nuclear agreement on terms acceptable to the United States.

While the summit took place in Beijing, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was attending a meeting of the BRICS+ bloc in New Delhi, India. Araghchi urged member states to condemn the US-Israel war on Iran, characterizing it as a violation of international law.

During the summit in India, Araghchi told the BRICS+ bloc that Iran was a victim of illegal expansionism and warmongering and called on member states to oppose Western hegemony by condemning the actions of the U.S. And Israel. He further asserted that Tehran would never bow to any pressure.

Araghchi also leveled accusations against the United Arab Emirates, claiming the UAE was directly involved in the aggression against Iran and played an active role in the war.

On the operational front, Iranian media reported that more than 30 ships were allowed to transit the Strait of Hormuz overnight on May 14, 2026. Some of these vessels were linked to Chinese companies. Tehran indicated that the waterway was open to all commercial ships that cooperate with Iranian naval forces.

The diplomatic efforts regarding Iran coincide with other regional attempts to reduce hostilities. On May 15, 2026, a third round of direct talks between Israeli and Lebanese negotiators began in Washington, DC, aimed at ending conflicts in southern Lebanon, where Israeli attacks have continued across various towns and villages.