United States President Donald Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed that Iran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but Beijing gave no public commitment to pressure Tehran.
Trump made the remarks aboard Air Force One on Friday after two days of talks with Xi in Beijing, China, the capital of East Asia.
The White House said Xi opposed any Iranian effort to militarise the waterway or charge tolls, while China’s foreign ministry said the war “should never have happened” and had no reason to continue.
Trump said he was considering whether to lift US sanctions on Chinese oil companies buying Iranian crude, as China remains the biggest buyer of Iranian oil.
Iran effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz to most shipping after US-Israeli attacks began on February 28, while Washington later paused attacks and began a blockade of Iranian ports.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in New Delhi that Tehran had received US messages on continuing talks and wanted negotiations to help secure the Strait and normalise traffic.
Trump said he wanted Iran to make a deal, keep the waterway open and abandon any nuclear weapon effort. Iran has long denied seeking nuclear arms.
Oil prices rose about 2% to around $108 a barrel on concerns over limited progress, while US Treasury yields hit their highest level in about a year as traders weighed inflation pressure from the blockade.
