How Trump-Xi summit failed to yield breakthrough on Iran war

For weeks ahead of United States President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing, Washington had urged China to use its influence over Iran to help end the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

But after more than 40 hours of talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the summit ended without any visible breakthrough on the Iran war, now in its 77th day, reports Al Jazeera.

While both sides acknowledged the risks posed by the conflict, statements issued after the meeting showed major differences remained over Iran, the Strait of Hormuz and Tehran's nuclear programme.

China reiterates opposition to war

The conflict began on 28 February when the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran during negotiations over Tehran's nuclear programme. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel as well as US military assets across the Gulf region.

Washington has defended the military campaign as necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, despite Tehran repeatedly insisting it has no intention of building one.

During the summit, China renewed its criticism of the war.

In a statement, the Chinese foreign ministry said the conflict had caused "severe losses" to people in Iran and neighbouring countries, adding that an early resolution was in the interests of both regional and global stability.

China also voiced support for ongoing ceasefire efforts reportedly being mediated by Pakistan and stressed that dialogue remained the only viable path forward.

Beijing further referred to Xi's four-point framework for Middle East peace, which emphasises peaceful coexistence, negotiated settlements, shared security and development-based cooperation.

Strait of Hormuz emerges as key divide

One of the clearest differences between the two sides centred on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy route through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supplies passed before the war.

Since March, Iran has restricted shipping through the waterway and required some vessels to coordinate passage with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Tehran has also floated proposals to impose transit fees on ships using the strait.

In a statement released after the summit, the White House said both leaders agreed that the Strait of Hormuz "must remain open" to ensure the free flow of energy.

The White House also said Xi opposed the militarisation of the strait and any attempt to charge tolls for passage.

However, the Chinese statement made no mention of Iranian tolls or militarisation. Instead, Beijing focused on the broader economic impact of the conflict, warning of disruptions to global trade, supply chains and energy markets.

The issue carries particular importance for China, which relies heavily on Gulf energy imports and remains a major buyer of Iranian oil.

Differences persist over Iran's nuclear programme

The United States and China also appeared divided in how they framed Iran's nuclear ambitions.

According to the White House, both countries agreed that "Iran can never have a nuclear weapon".

China's statement, however, avoided directly endorsing that language. Instead, Beijing called for dialogue and a negotiated settlement that addresses the concerns of all parties involved.

Iran has never officially declared an intention to develop nuclear weapons. China had previously worked alongside the US, Russia and European powers to support the 2015 nuclear agreement negotiated during former US President Barack Obama's administration.

Iran is currently believed to possess around 440kg of uranium enriched to 60%, below the 90% level generally associated with weapons-grade material.

No major shift from either side

Despite intense diplomatic engagement, the summit ultimately underscored how far apart Washington and Beijing remain on Iran.

China maintained support for dialogue, ceasefire efforts and Xi's long-standing regional framework, while the US continued to prioritise pressure on Tehran over its nuclear activities and actions in the Gulf.

In the days leading up to the summit, Trump administration officials sent mixed signals about China's role.

Trump himself said Washington did not "need any help with Iran", while Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged that China had significant leverage over Tehran.

At the same time, senior US officials publicly urged Beijing to become more involved.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called on China to support efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington hoped Beijing would pressure Iran to step back from its actions in the Persian Gulf.

Yet by the end of the summit, neither side appeared willing to alter its core position – leaving hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough largely unmet.