In second day of talks, US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have shown rare unity over the Iran nuclear issue.
On Friday, President Trump announced that he and President Xi have agreed to the fact that Iran must not be allowed to have a nuclear weapon and must re-open the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, key shipping passageway for 40 percent of global oil supplies.
“We have settled a lot of different problems that other people wouldn’t have been able to solve,” Trump said on Friday after he met Xi Jinping in Beijing.
Both leaders discussed Iran during their high-stakes meeting and “we feel very similar on Iran.”
“We don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said. Besides Iran, both leaders discussed various issues related to trade, Taiwan and other key issues.
The US does not want Iran to have nuclear weapons, nor must they enrich uranium prerequisites for processing nuclear programmes. Islamic republic has always resisted the demand while maintaining the position that Iran’s nuclear programme is for civilian purposes.
The peace talks between the US and Iran have also stalled due to Tehran’s demand to put aside nuclear negotiations till an agreement is reached.
Xi has not yet given any direct statement on the Iran issue, but the Chinese foreign ministry has issued a blunt statement regarding the Iran conflict.
“This conflict, which should never have happened, has no reason to continue,” the ministry said.
After the talks between Trump and Xi, the White House also stated that both countries agreed to the fact that Hormuz should be opened and Xi made clear that no conflict can justify the weaponization and militarization of the waterway. China has expressed interest in purchasing American oil to slash Beijing’s dependence on the strait.
Trump also announced that China also promised not to send military equipment to Iran.
“He said he’s not going to give military equipment, that’s a big statement,” Trump said on the “Hannity” program on Fox News.
