Trump Plans Long Talk with Xi on Iran as Conflict Overshadows China Summit

President Donald Trump said Tuesday he expects to have a "long talk" with Chinese President Xi Jinping about Iran this week. The issue now overshadows a summit originally set to center on trade, technology and Taiwan.

"It was a fantastic day," Trump said Thursday during a state banquet marking his welcome to China and initial meetings. "And in particular, I want to thank President Xi, my friend, for this magnificent welcome … and for so graciously hosting us on this very historic state visit. We had positive and productive conversations and meetings today with the Chinese delegation earlier. And this evening is another cherished opportunity to discuss among friends some of the things that we discussed today."

Trump arrived in Beijing facing the challenge of confronting Xi over China's ties to Tehran while preserving leverage in a key global relationship. China's role as a top buyer of Iranian oil has long frustrated U.S. officials. With Trump seeking to cut off Tehran's economic lifeline, Beijing's support for Iran has become central.

Ahead of the summit, Trump downplayed Iran's dominance in the talks. He told reporters before leaving for Beijing that "we have a lot of things to discuss" and added, "I wouldn’t say Iran is one of them, to be honest with you, because we have Iran very much under control."

China purchases roughly 90% of Iran’s exported oil, making Beijing Tehran's main economic lifeline, though Iranian crude accounts for only 13% to 15% of China’s total oil imports.

The Trump administration has increased pressure through secondary sanctions on Chinese refiners processing Iranian oil. The measures threaten to bar those firms from the U.S. financial system and show how the Iran conflict now intersects with the broader U.S.-China relationship.

During their first bilateral meeting Thursday morning, Xi expressed interest in buying more American energy. "The two sides agreed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to support the free flow of energy," a White House official said in a meeting readout.

"President Xi also made clear China’s opposition to the militarization of the Strait and any effort to charge a toll for its use, and he expressed interest in purchasing more American oil to reduce China’s dependence on the Strait in the future," the official continued. "Both countries agreed that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon."

Beijing ordered Chinese companies not to comply with the U.S. sanctions, marking a direct challenge to Washington uncommon in past disputes. China has often sidestepped U.S. pressure quietly before.

Even as Beijing urged firms to ignore the sanctions publicly, regulators quietly told major banks to halt new lending to several sanctioned refineries, according to a Bloomberg report. The move aimed to protect China's financial system from U.S. secondary sanctions without escalating openly.

Elaine Dezenski, who heads the Center on Economic and Financial Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said the Iran conflict is "quietly changing China’s strategic calculus."

"Thus far, China has weathered the economic disruption of the Iran conflict reasonably well," Dezenski said during an FDD media briefing previewing the summit. She noted Beijing has drawn on strategic oil and gas reserves meant for a potential Taiwan scenario.

The situation has sparked debate in Washington over whether the Iran conflict weakens Trump's position with Beijing by diverting U.S. resources to the Middle East or exposes China's vulnerabilities.

Craig Singleton, senior director of FDD’s China Program, said Beijing has little interest in letting the conflict widen. "China does not want a wider Middle East war," Singleton said. "It does not want sustained energy disruption."

Even if China can handle short-term shocks better than most, Singleton said Beijing wants the Strait of Hormuz reopened because "China’s export economy depends on predictable energy, transport and insurance conditions."

The Trump administration's campaign against Iran now targets Chinese interests, turning a regional conflict into direct friction between the world's two largest powers.

"President Trump, when you go to China, realize that the person you’re talking to is propping up Russia and Iran," Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said during a Senate hearing Tuesday, adding that "of all the countries on the planet, China could have the most influence on ending this war if they chose to."

U.S. officials have accused Chinese and Hong Kong-based entities of aiding Iran's missile and drone programs, deepening tensions over Tehran.

"China always acts prudently and responsibly on the export of military products, and exercises strict control in accordance with China’s laws and regulations on export control and due international obligations," Chinese embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu told Fox News Digital. "China opposes groundless smear and ill-intentioned association. Regarding the situation in Iran, China has repeatedly articulated its solemn position. The pressing priority is to make every effort to prevent by all means a relapse in fighting, rather than exploiting the conflict to maliciously smear other nations."

Analysts say Trump is unlikely to win major concessions from Beijing on Iran but could press Xi to urge Tehran quietly to avoid energy market disruptions. Chinese help might come with demands for U.S. concessions elsewhere, though Beijing's sway over Tehran remains limited.

"I would be very careful about making concessions … for some kind of promise that they’re going to whisper in the ears of their friends in Iran," said Sarah Cook, a senior fellow at CEPA.

Experts note that despite China's economic role for Iran, Tehran's choices stem from ideology and regime survival, areas beyond Beijing's full control.