U.S. says China may curb Iran support, speed rare earth exports

A senior U.S. official said Friday, May 15, 2026, that China is expected to limit material support for Iran and has shown improved, though sometimes slow, cooperation on rare earth exports to the United States. The comments came during a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. The official linked Beijing’s stance to its interest in keeping shipping lanes open in the Middle East and maintaining trade flows with the U.S.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said China considers the free passage through the Strait of Hormuz critical and is acting “pragmatic” in its approach to Iran. He said Washington has “a lot of confidence” that Beijing will do what it can to limit any kind of material support for Tehran, citing a shared desire to see peace in the region.

Greer’s remarks pointed to a potential overlap in U.S. and Chinese interests around Middle East stability, particularly if disruptions threaten energy and commercial shipping. He did not specify what steps China would take or how the U.S. would measure any limits on support.

Strait of Hormuz and China’s stance on Iran

Greer said the discussions underscored the importance for China of an open Strait of Hormuz, without tolling or military control. He indicated that this view was “clear from the meeting,” and said the U.S. welcomed it.

The assessment was framed as an expectation rather than a commitment publicly announced by Beijing. The comments also did not include details about any timeline or enforcement mechanisms related to limiting support for Iran.

Rare earth export controls and licensing delays

On trade, Greer said rare earth exports from China to the U.S. have improved, with volumes returning to “better levels.” He added that China still occasionally delays export licenses, requiring U.S. officials to intervene on behalf of affected companies.

China imposed rare earth export controls in April 2025 in response to U.S. tariffs, Greer said. He also pointed to an agreement in October intended to liberalize shipments, while noting that some restrictions remain in place.

Officials are expected to continue monitoring rare earth licensing and any signals from Beijing about Iran-related support as the summit concludes.