Trump says Xi assured him China won’t send weapons to Iran

U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Chinese President Xi Jinping has assured him Beijing will not send weapons to Iran during the ongoing war.

The statement came after Trump returned from a three-day visit to China last week, during which he hailed several trade agreements but achieved no major breakthrough on the U.S.-Israel war on Iran.

It also coincided with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s arrival in China for his own visit, continuing a longstanding strategic partnership between Moscow and Beijing that has long caused unease in Washington. Russia has for years provided weapons to Iran.

“President Xi has promised me that he’s not sending any weapons to Iran. That’s a beautiful promise. I take him at his word,” Trump told reporters at an event at the White House ballroom construction site.

He added that Xi, like himself, wants the Strait of Hormuz to remain open.

Before Trump’s visit to China, he and his top officials had sent contradictory signals, suggesting they hoped Beijing would use its influence over Iran to help achieve a more lasting ceasefire while simultaneously downplaying the idea that the war would be a major topic of discussion with Xi.

Since the meeting, there has been little indication that China — which has largely avoided deeper involvement — would take a more active role.

Trump spoke shortly after issuing a new threat against Iran, saying in a social media post that the “Clock is Ticking” to reach a more lasting ceasefire beyond the current pause in fighting, which has been in effect since April 8.

On Monday, Trump said he had put a “hold” on a planned attack.

He said he made the decision at the request of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, adding, “Serious negotiations are now taking place.”

Iran’s semiofficial Tasnim News Agency reported Monday that Iran had submitted a revised 14-point peace plan to end the war, though details were not immediately made public.

On Tuesday, Trump discussed the planned attack on Iran, telling reporters he was “an hour away from making the decision to go today.”

Trump said he agreed to give Iran a few “days” to return to negotiations.

“Maybe Friday, Saturday, Sunday, something, maybe early next week, a limited period of time,” he said.

“We may have to give them another big hit. I’m not sure yet,” he added.

Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament’s national security committee, maintained that Trump was motivated not by negotiations but by fear of Iran’s response to a new attack.

He said a new U.S. attack would mean “facing a decisive military response and unified nation.”

“Power is the only language he understands,” Azizi added.