Iran fumes as US sanctions stop flights to holy city in Iraq

During President Trump's state visit to China, he reportedly asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to stop providing support to Iran, according to U.S. Ambassador to Beijing David Perdue. Perdue explained that China's economic, intelligence, and military assistance to Iran has complicated the U.S.'s efforts to isolate the country amidst the ongoing conflict.

The United States is implementing a significant economic pressure campaign against Iran, but without China's cooperation, the campaign's effectiveness is limited. Officials have been wary since the beginning of the war that China may be supplying Iran with air defense systems and drone-building components. Recent high-resolution images obtained from Chinese commercial satellites have enabled Iran to target U.S. bases in the Middle East, aircraft carriers, and Navy ships in the Gulf and Arabian Sea.

This prompted the U.S. military to modify its operational procedures to make it more challenging for Iran to locate and target Navy vessels. Perdue stated that the U.S. has made it clear to China that any assistance to Iran, whether direct or indirect, is entirely unacceptable. China reportedly acknowledged this during their conversation and has taken steps to reduce aid to Iran.

However, Chinese state media suggested that Xi urged Trump to de-escalate with Iran by returning to the June memorandum of understanding and reaching a nuclear deal. U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held indirect negotiations with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in New York, following the meeting between Trump and Xi.

Araghchi presented Iran's conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and resuming nuclear talks, which included lifting the U.S. naval blockade, removing sanctions on oil sales, and reinstating a ceasefire across the region. The U.S. negotiators made it clear that Iran does not control the strait and therefore cannot demand control over it.

Qatar, acting as a key mediator between Iran and the U.S., held a meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in New York to discuss the diplomatic efforts. Sources indicate that Qatar and Iran are awaiting a response from the U.S. regarding the Iranian proposal.