Xi Jinping and Donald Trump Meet at White House Amid Tensions Over Iran

When Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives at the White House on September 24 for his second summit with US President Donald Trump, the real agenda is not what's officially stated. According to sources, Iran will be a central topic of discussion, despite neither government mentioning it in pre-summit statements.

The informal oil pricing arrangements between China and Iran provide Beijing with about 1.5 million barrels of oil per day at a significant discount to market rates. This arrangement suits China, but the US has threatened to punish entities that continue facilitating Iranian oil revenue under its 'Operation Economic Outcast' campaign.

The maneuvering around Iran has pushed AI governance off the center stage and back to being a secondary topic. Analysts expect both sides will extend the Busan truce, an informal tariff freeze agreed in October 2025, for another year, benefiting Chinese exporters and American manufacturers who rely on Chinese inputs.