US President Donald Trump is expected to raise Iran directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping during an upcoming visit, according to officials familiar with the plans. The conversation is likely to centre on China's continued purchase of Iranian oil, which American officials view as undermining US pressure on Tehran.
The US has long pushed a "maximum pressure" strategy on Iran, using sanctions to restrict its oil exports and cut off revenue that Washington says funds military and proxy activities across the Middle East. China is Iran's largest oil customer by a wide margin, buying heavily discounted crude that helps Tehran stay financially afloat despite Western sanctions.
Why This Meeting Matters
Raising Iran during a US-China summit signals that the issue has moved beyond standard diplomatic channels. Trump pressing Xi directly suggests Washington wants a political commitment, not just a technical discussion, on Chinese energy purchases from Iran.
For Beijing, Iranian oil is cheap and helps reduce its dependence on Gulf suppliers. Cutting back would carry a real economic cost, which is why China has historically deflected US pressure on this point. The question is whether the broader framework of US-China trade negotiations, already under strain, gives Trump additional leverage here, or whether Iran becomes a secondary bargaining chip.
Wider Stakes
Any shift in Chinese buying behaviour would have direct consequences for global oil markets. Iranian crude trades at a steep discount to benchmark prices, and if that supply were constrained, it could tighten global supply and push prices higher. Conversely, if Trump secures only a vague commitment, markets are unlikely to react.
The timing also matters geopolitically. The US is engaged in active diplomacy with Iran over its nuclear programme, and Chinese purchases give Tehran room to negotiate from a position of relative financial stability. A credible reduction in Chinese oil imports would weaken that position.
What to watch: whether any joint statement from the meeting references Iran specifically, and whether the US follows up with new sanctions targeting Chinese entities that buy Iranian crude, a step Washington has taken before but applied inconsistently.
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