Trump says US and China aligned on Iran nuclear threat and Strait of Hormuz access after talks with Xi, while Taiwan tensions remain under close discussion, reports Asian Lite News Desk
US President Donald Trump has said that the United States and China are aligned on preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and ensuring the Strait of Hormuz remains open, following high-level talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One after concluding a three-day state visit to China, Trump said the issue of Iran was a key focus of discussions, alongside wider regional tensions in West Asia and the question of Taiwan.
Trump said President Xi had been “very strong” in his view that Iran should not obtain nuclear weapons and had also stressed the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open. The US president added that any attempt by Iran to disrupt shipping in the region would be met with firm action.
He also claimed that US control over the strategic waterway had effectively halted Iranian trade in recent weeks, estimating that Tehran had lost around $500 million per day over the past two-and-a-half weeks due to what he described as a US naval blockade.
“I have a lot of respect for him. On Iran, he feels strongly that they can’t have a nuclear weapon—said that very strongly,” Trump said, adding that Xi also wanted the strait reopened. He suggested Iran had carried out little to no business during the period due to US actions in the region.
The discussions also covered tensions surrounding Taiwan, with Trump saying Xi had expressed opposition to any moves towards independence, warning that such a development would lead to a “very strong confrontation”.
Trump said the Chinese leader had raised the issue directly during talks, while he himself refrained from making a detailed response. “I heard him out,” Trump said, adding that he had “a lot of respect” for Xi’s position.
The US president also confirmed that the two sides discussed arms sales to Taiwan, referencing longstanding arrangements dating back to the presidency of Ronald Reagan in 1982. Trump suggested those past understandings did not prevent current discussions, describing them as “a long way away” in the context of present-day geopolitical realities.
He indicated that a decision on future US policy regarding Taiwan would be taken in due course, stressing that avoiding a broader conflict remained a priority. “The last thing we need right now is a war that’s 9,500 miles away,” he said.
Trump characterised the visit as productive, saying both sides had reached a “very good understanding” on key issues, including Iran and Taiwan. However, no formal agreements were announced, and the remarks reflect Trump’s account of the discussions rather than a jointly issued statement.
