Did Trump ask Xi Jinping to pressure Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and what was his stated reason for not doing so?

No, Trump explicitly stated he 'did not push his Chinese counterpart to pressure Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz' and 'stopped short of asking Xi to lean on Iran to ease traffic through the passage.' He explained that he avoided making such a request because 'when you ask for favors you have to do favors in return' and emphasized, 'We don’t need favors.'

What did Trump say about China's position on Iran's nuclear program and its role as an Iranian oil buyer?

Trump said Xi Jinping 'largely agrees with him on the risks of Iran becoming a nuclear power' and 'very strongly' affirmed that 'they cannot have a nuclear weapon'; he also noted their alignment on wanting the Strait of Hormuz opened. However, he acknowledged a key divergence: 'he’s a buyer and we’re not, we don’t need it' — referring to China’s status as a major importer of Iranian oil, unlike the U.S.

Trump Says He Didn't Ask Xi to Pressure Iran on Strait of Hormuz

May 15, 2026

President Trump stated he did not ask President Xi to pressure Iran regarding the Strait of Hormuz, though both agree on nuclear risks, while shipping disruptions threaten crude oil supplies to China.

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