President Donald Trump told Chinese leader Xi Jinping during White House talks that it would be 'unacceptable' for China to help Iran amid the US military campaign against the country, a US official said.
Key facts
- Trump raised the issue with Xi during talks at the White House, according to a US official.
- US ambassador to China David Perdue told CNBC the message was made 'very clear' weeks ago and repeated by Trump.
- Perdue said any help, direct or indirect, including intelligence, parts or military equipment, was deemed 'totally unacceptable'.
- Xi was expected to depart Washington after touring the National Archives, home to the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
President Donald Trump told visiting Chinese leader Xi Jinping that it would be ‘unacceptable’ for China to assist Iran during the United States’ military campaign against the country, a US official told CNBC, according to the Guardian’s live coverage.
The warning came during talks at the White House. David Perdue, the US ambassador to China, described the exchange in an interview with CNBC, saying the administration had been explicit about its position both in recent weeks and again during the latest meeting.
‘We made it very clear to them weeks ago that, you know, any help that they would give Iran, whether it be direct or indirect, whether it be intelligence or parts or military equipment, was totally unacceptable,’ Perdue said. ‘President Trump made that very clear again yesterday.’
The remarks indicate that Washington views the possibility of Chinese support for Iran, in any form, as a red line during its ongoing military operations. Perdue’s comments specified that both direct and indirect assistance, spanning intelligence sharing and the supply of parts or military equipment, fall under that warning.
The diplomatic message accompanied Xi’s visit to the US capital. According to the Guardian, Xi was expected to leave Washington after touring the nation’s vault of records, where the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are held.
The reported warning underscores the tensions surrounding the US campaign against Iran and the role that major powers such as China could play. The available reporting does not detail Xi’s response or any broader outcomes from the White House talks.
Why it matters
The reported warning signals how the United States is trying to isolate Iran diplomatically during its military campaign by pressing China, a key power, to stay out. Any Chinese decision on whether to assist Iran could significantly affect the course of the conflict and US-China relations.
Frequently asked questions
What did Trump tell Xi Jinping about Iran?
According to a US official cited by CNBC and reported by the Guardian, Trump told Xi during White House talks that it would be 'unacceptable' for China to help Iran during the US military campaign against the country.
What kind of assistance did the US warn against?
US ambassador David Perdue said any help, direct or indirect, including intelligence, parts or military equipment, was considered 'totally unacceptable'.
What was Xi doing in Washington?
The Guardian reported that Xi was expected to depart Washington after touring the National Archives, which holds the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.