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diplomacyMay 13, 2026

The Irish Times view on the Trump/Xi summit: Iran war hangs over vital talks

Summary

When Xi Jinping invited Donald Trump to visit China last year, it was part of an effort by both sides to stabilise their relationship after a short, sharp trade war triggered by the “Liberation Day” tariffs. Trade will still top the agenda when the two men meet at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People today but there is now another burning issue on the table in the shape of the war in Iran. China was unequivocal in condemning Trump’s war against Iran as an illegal act of aggression and Beijing has offered humanitarian aid as well as diplomatic support to Tehran. But China also has important economic ties with the Gulf monarchies, notably Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and it has suffered from the impact of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The White House signalled in advance of Trump’s trip that he would press Xi to curb Chinese help for Iran, particularly the supply of dual use technology that could help Tehran’s military defence. But when the US this month sanctioned Chinese companies over dealings with Iran, including one that provides satellite imagery, Beijing warned that anyone complying with the American measures would be prosecuted. When Trump and Xi met in the South Korean city of Busan last November, they agreed a year-long truce in the trade war triggered by Washington’s imposition of triple-figure tariffs on Chinese imports. China responded to the tariffs by choking off the supply to the US of rare earth minerals used in modern manufacturing and Trump backed down. Both sides hope to extend the truce and build on it by establishing a Board of Trade and a Board of Investment to manage their bilateral economic relationship. China may agree to buy more American soya beans and to increase its orders of Boeing aircraft. READ MORE The US has sought to exclude Chinese electric vehicles from the American market but there is speculation that Trump could agree an investment deal with Xi that would see Chinese manufacturers establishing production plants in the US. Some European Union member-states have also sought to attract Chinese investment in electric vehicle production in a pattern similar to that which followed the appearance of Japanese cars on the western market in the 1990s. Taiwan is watching Trump’s visit with anxiety, fearing that Xi will persuade him to shift Washington’s rhetorical position by declaring opposition to Taiwanese independence. The US acknowledges Beijing as the sole government of China but has been vague about the legal status of Taiwan. However, Trump has alarmed Taipei by suggesting that it is up to Xi to decide what he wants to do about the island and saying he was prepared to discuss US military support for Taiwan. Whether this issue becomes part of a complex web of trade-offs in the talks will be vital.

Perspectives

Iranian Official

The Iranian government condemns the US war of aggression against the Islamic Republic as a blatant violation of national sovereignty and international law, rejecting any foreign interference in its affairs. Tehran welcomes China's firm diplomatic support and humanitarian assistance in resisting this unlawful assault, while warning that US sanctions on Chinese firms aiding Iran's defense will be met with resolute opposition. As leaders meet in Beijing, the focus remains on upholding Iran's right to self-defense amid ongoing external threats.

Israeli

From an Israeli security standpoint, the Trump-Xi summit underscores the urgent need to sever China’s supply of dual-use technology and satellite support to Iran, which sustains Tehran’s proxy network of Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis as an existential multi-front threat to the Jewish state. While Beijing condemns U.S. defensive strikes on Iranian aggression and evades sanctions to preserve its ties with Tehran, such assistance directly bolsters the regime’s military capabilities and risks closing the Strait of Hormuz, endangering regional stability. Israel views curbing this axis as a defensive imperative to prevent Iran from acquiring advanced tools that could enable catastrophic attacks on the homeland.

Neutral

Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump are set to meet in Beijing, with trade and the conflict in Iran on the agenda. China has condemned US military actions in Iran and provided support to Tehran while maintaining economic ties with Gulf states affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The US has sanctioned Chinese firms over dealings with Iran, including the supply of dual-use technology, prompting Beijing to warn against compliance with those measures; the two leaders previously agreed to a trade truce during their November meeting in Busan.

Western

President Trump’s upcoming meeting with Xi Jinping in Beijing centers on pressing China to cease supplying dual-use technologies and satellite support to Iran, thereby neutralizing Tehran’s defensive capabilities after U.S. precision strikes dismantled key threats. While advancing a trade truce to stabilize supply chains, Washington seeks to counter Beijing’s enabling of Iranian aggression, which has also disrupted the Strait of Hormuz and global energy flows. Recent sanctions on Chinese firms underscore the strategic imperative to deter any assistance that prolongs regional instability.

Pro-Peace

As the devastating war in Iran continues to inflict heavy civilian casualties and humanitarian suffering, China’s condemnation of the aggression and offers of aid to Tehran highlight the urgent need for de-escalation over military escalation. Diplomatic engagement, rather than sanctions or trade pressures that prolong regional instability, offers the only path to protecting lives and easing the blockade’s impact on ordinary people. Both leaders must prioritize humanitarian relief and peaceful negotiations to end the conflict.

Global South

Beijing has asserted its sovereign right to maintain independent ties with Iran, rejecting US sanctions on Chinese firms as neo-colonial interference aimed at enforcing compliance with Washington’s illegal war of aggression. As Xi hosts Trump amid unresolved trade frictions from earlier US tariffs, the talks expose the failure of multilateral institutions to restrain unilateral coercion or protect nations resisting external dictates. China’s calibrated support for Tehran, alongside its Gulf economic links, reflects non-aligned priorities over submission to American pressure.

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Sources

  • Wed MayBy Wed May

    When Xi Jinping invited Donald Trump to visit China last year, it was part of an effort by both sides to stabilise their relationship after a short, sharp trade war triggered by the “Liberation Day” tariffs. Trade will still top the agenda when the two men meet at Beijing’s Great…

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Key points: Bitcoin diverges from US stocks as Trump says Strait of Hormuz “open” Data from TradingView showed BTC/USD building on the week’s gains as the S&P 500 bounced from 7,696, its lowest level since Aug. 4. BTC/USD four-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView This came after US president Donald Trump posted a map of the closed Strait of Hormuz oil route to Truth Social where it was labeled “new US territory.

” Both the US and Iran lay claim to control of Hormuz, with Trump threatening US ally Oman with military action over its plans to work with Iran on charging tolls to shipping traffic. In a subsequent post, Trump confirmed that further diplomacy with Iran was not on the agenda.

“There are no talks or conversations going on, or scheduled, with the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Naval Blockade remains in full force and effect. The Hormuz Strait is open and operating. All water mines have been removed or detonated,” he wrote. S&P 500 one-day chart.

Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView As on Monday, oil avoided major volatility, with WTI crude down 1% at the time of writing at $84 per barrel. US government bonds continued to show strain, with the 30-year yield hitting 5.34%, its highest since January 2007.

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BTC/USD one-day chart. Source: Aksel Kibar on X.com Previously, Cointelegraph reported that underwater investors were contributing to Bitcoin’s inability to break higher. Its rebound to $64,500 also stopped short of an overhead trend line, the 50-month exponential moving average (EMA).

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Location: Strait of Hormuz
diplomacyUnverifiedUSIran
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Trump says no talks underway with Iran, Hormuz blockade remains in place US president says no discussions are taking place or planned with Tehran and reiterates that the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz remains fully operational Washington: US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that no talks are taking place with Iran and that no discussions are currently scheduled between the two countries.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump also said the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz remains "in full force and effect." The president did not provide further details regarding US policy towards Iran or any potential future diplomatic engagement.

Trump's comments come amid continued tensions between Washington and Tehran and renewed focus on security and navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important oil shipping routes.

Location: Tehran
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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tuesday that Iran had “won both the war and diplomacy,” claiming those who initially sought Tehran’s “unconditional surrender” later sought negotiations. Speaking at an event, Araghchi said Iran resisted for days against what he described as “the world’s largest apparent military,” alongside another army claiming military power and with the support of nearly all Western countries and some other states inside and outside the region, according to the Tasnim news agency.

“Those who were seeking unconditional surrender, shortly after the war began, begged for negotiations,” Araghchi said. He claimed Tehran initially rejected a ceasefire and continued fighting until reaching a point where the other side accepted a ceasefire and negotiations “on Iran’s terms.

” “We fought with strength, and we negotiated with strength,” he said, adding that many foreign ministers had told him: “You won both the war and diplomacy.” Araghchi’s remarks came after US President Donald Trump called on Iran on Monday to give up and “raise the white flag.

Location: Tehran
diplomacyUnverifiedUSIran
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- Iran demands US lift sanctions and return frozen assets to reopen Strait of Hormuz - Iran's Parliament Speaker warns closure of Strait continues until US ends military threats - Around 20% of global oil supply passes through the Strait, impacting energy security Iran has warned that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the US meets a set of conditions, including the release of frozen Iranian assets, an end to oil sanctions and what Tehran describes as a US blockade and military threats.

Al-Arabiya English reported that Iran's Parliament Speaker and top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the Trump administration must meet the conditions before Tehran considers reopening the strategic waterway. “Until the Trump regime removes the blockade, ends the wars across the region, returns Iran's stolen assets, lifts the oil sanctions, and ceases its military threats, the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed,” Ghalibaf said.

Until the Trump regime removes the blockade, ends the wars across the region, returns Iran's stolen assets, lifts the oil sanctions, and ceases its military threats, the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed. pic.twitter.com/fl2RrKnT1R— Seyed Mohammad Marandi (@s_m_marandi) August 18, 2026 Ghalibaf also warned that Iran was prepared to respond more forcefully depending on the actions of its adversaries.

ALSO READ: 'We Control Hormuz': Trump To Declare Strait As US Territory? Here's What President Says The comments add a new condition to an already fragile diplomatic environment, with the Strait of Hormuz at the centre of concerns over global energy supplies.

Around one-fifth of global oil supply typically passes through the waterway, making any prolonged disruption a major risk for crude markets, shipping and energy security. Earlier, Press TV reported that Ghalibaf is scheduled to travel to Baghdad on Wednesday at the head of a high-level Iranian delegation for discussions with Iraqi leaders.

The talks are expected to cover regional developments and bilateral cooperation, including border security, counterterrorism, economic ties and implementation of existing agreements. Iraqi media have also reported that the agenda could include a proposal concerning Iraqi oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz.

The visit comes as regional governments grapple with the implications of continued disruption in one of the world's most important energy corridors. ALSO READ: Hormuz Tensions: Another Ship Hit By Unknown Projectile, Says UKMTO Centre The security situation in the waterway has also remained tense.

The UK's Maritime Trade Operations agency, or UKMTO, said a vessel reported being struck by an unknown projectile while conducting an outbound transit of the Strait of Hormuz. “The Company Security Officer has reported that the vessel was struck by an unknown projectile while conducting an outbound transit of the Strait of Hormuz,” UKMTO said.

The impact damaged the vessel's engine room and resulted in a crew casualty, the agency said. The remaining crew was being assisted by the Omani coastguard. Essential Business Intelligence, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice, Daily Fuel, Gold and Silver Prices and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.

Location: Tehran