Trump warns Xi against Iran support as Beijing pledges no assistance

Washington: US President Donald Trump cautioned Chinese President Xi Jinping against providing assistance to Iran during their talks in Washington earlier this week, according to the US ambassador to China, David Perdue. Perdue stated on Friday that Trump made it clear that any direct or indirect support for Iran would be entirely unacceptable.

When asked if China would cease its aid to Iran, Perdue affirmed that Washington had received assurances from Beijing on Thursday, stating, "We've seen movement... on that already. That's what the commitment is. They assured us yesterday they're not doing that."

The conversation took place amid reports suggesting China had supplied Iran with shoulder-fired air-defense missile launchers and that Iran had devised methods to circumvent sanctions on its oil exports aided by Chinese support. Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported on Thursday that Xi had called upon the US and Iran to resume negotiations to end the ongoing conflict. However, Xi has not made any public statements regarding China's potential involvement in supporting Iran.

During the state visit to Washington, Trump and Xi did not field formal questions from the media. Earlier this month, Trump dismissed claims that Iran had obtained satellite imagery of a base in Jordan from Chinese entities prior to an attack that resulted in the death of three US servicemen in July. Trump remarked, "They basically do what we do. When they say China spies on us, I say you're right and we spy on them too."