Donald Trump has shared an insight into China’s position on Iran before his official visit came to an end today. The US President claimed he’s “settled a lot of different problems” with his Chinese counterpart that “other people wouldn’t have been able to solve”, though they both take a similar stance on the Iran war.
Mr Trump said the pair discussed the conflict in the Middle East, which they “feel very similar” about, particularly regarding the issue of Iran creating a nuclear weapon. He described Tehran as “a little bit crazy” – his reasoning for them not being allowed nukes – which Xi was reportedly “very much” in agreement with.
He said: “We did discuss Iran. We feel very similar on Iran, we want that to end and we don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon.
“We want the Straits open. We’re closing it now. They closed it and we closed it on top of them. But we want the Straits open, and we want them to get it ended because it’s a crazy thing.
“They’re a little bit crazy and that’s no good. Can’t have it. They cannot have a nuclear weapon. But we discussed a lot of other things also and I think we’re very much on agreement.”
In a statement praising the “good meeting”, it said both sides “agreed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to support the free flow of energy”.
The White House wrote: “President Xi also made clear China’s opposition to the militarisation of the Strait and any effort to charge a toll for its use, and he expressed interest in purchasing more American oil to reduce China’s dependence on the Strait in the future.”
