Trump says China not essential to Iran peace effort as war and oil disruptions dominate Beijing summit

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he does not expect to need China’s assistance to end the war involving Iran, even as the conflict and its impact on global energy markets moved to the forefront of his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Speaking before departing for Beijing, Trump said the United States would resolve the conflict “peacefully or otherwise,” and dismissed suggestions that Beijing’s influence over Tehran would be central to any settlement.

The remarks came as Iran tightened its hold over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route that normally carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply.

According to Reuters, Tehran has reached arrangements with Iraq and Pakistan to transport oil and liquefied natural gas through the region, while other countries are exploring similar mechanisms that could reinforce Iran’s influence over the waterway.

Senior US and Chinese officials had agreed last month that no country should be able to impose tolls on traffic through the strait, although Beijing has not publicly elaborated on the understanding.

On Wednesday, a Chinese supertanker carrying 2 million barrels of Iraqi crude passed through the waterway, marking the third known transit by a Chinese oil tanker since US and Israeli strikes on Iran began on February 28.

The conflict is increasingly affecting global energy balances. The International Energy Agency said world oil supply is expected to decline by around 3.9 million barrels per day in 2026, with more than 1 billion barrels of Middle Eastern supply already disrupted.

Brent crude futures held near $108 per barrel following a three-day rally driven by continued uncertainty over access to Hormuz.

Trump said domestic economic pressures were not influencing his approach, insisting that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remained his overriding objective.

The political backdrop remains challenging. A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that two-thirds of Americans believe Trump has not clearly explained the rationale for the war, with concerns over inflation and living costs continuing to weigh on public sentiment ahead of the November midterm elections.

Meanwhile, despite a US-mediated ceasefire, Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon killed 12 people on Wednesday, including two children, according to Lebanese health authorities, underscoring the broader regional risks tied to the conflict.