United States President Donald Trump on Wednesday said China has agreed not to supply weapons to Iran, revealing that he received personal assurances from Chinese leader Xi Jinping ahead of their planned summit in Beijing.
Trump disclosed this in a post on Truth Social, where he said Beijing had responded positively after he raised concerns about possible military support to Iran amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
“They have agreed not to send weapons to Iran. President Xi will give me a big, fat hug when I get there in a few weeks,” Trump wrote, referring to his scheduled May 14–15 meeting with the Chinese leader.
Speaking in a separate interview with Fox Business, Trump said Xi had “essentially” assured him that China was not arming Tehran.
“I had heard that China’s giving weapons to Iran… and I wrote him a letter asking him not to do that, and he wrote me a letter saying that essentially he’s not doing that,” Trump said.
China is Iran’s largest trading partner and a major buyer of its crude oil, making Beijing a key player in the region’s geopolitical balance.
The remarks come as tensions remain high following U.S. military actions targeting Iranian interests and a controversial blockade of Iranian-linked shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz — a vital global oil corridor.
China had earlier criticised the U.S. actions, describing them as “dangerous and irresponsible,” while Xi pledged that Beijing would play a “constructive role” in promoting peace in the Middle East.
Trump, however, defended the move, claiming it was necessary to secure global trade flows.
“China is very happy that I am permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz. I am doing it for them also — and the world,” he said.
The planned Trump-Xi summit was initially scheduled for March. Still, it was delayed after Washington escalated its military engagement in the region, further straining already complex relations between the world’s two largest economies.
Beyond military tensions, Trump was also asked about reports of a recent cyberattack allegedly linked to China targeting the FBI. While he did not directly confirm the incident, he suggested such exchanges were routine between both powers.
“We do it to them. They do it to us,” he said, adding, “China’s China… they’re never easy, but we’re doing great with China.”
Trump maintained that his administration remains firm in its dealings with Beijing, insisting he is “the toughest person” on China.
The latest claims add a fresh diplomatic dimension to the already tense U.S.-China-Iran relationship as attention turns to the upcoming Beijing summit.
