Trump and Xi Discuss Middle East War as Iran Presses for Seven-Day Peace Plan
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed the Middle East war during their summit on Friday, as Iran pressed Washington to accept a seven-day plan to end fighting in the region.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane, has been disrupted by Iranian threats on tankers and the advance of Iranian-allied Houthis along chokepoints in the Red Sea. China is highly dependent on Middle Eastern oil and has urged the US and Iran to return to a June framework agreement that led to a short-lived ceasefire.
Iran welcomed Xi's push for a return to the June framework, but also emphasized its own peace proposal, which includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz and halting hostilities within seven days. The plan requires the US to lift its blockade on Iranian ports, release Iran's frozen funds, and waive oil sanctions.
However, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran will show no flexibility over its nuclear program even if the US accepts its peace deal. Iran would grant no concessions over its rights, including enriching uranium or shipping highly enriched uranium out of the country.