Trump Says Xi Offered Diplomatic Help on Iran Conflict

U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday, May 15, 2026, that Chinese President Xi Jinping offered diplomatic assistance to help end the conflict involving Iran after a two-day summit in Beijing. Trump said military support was not part of the discussions but that Xi expressed a willingness to help facilitate peace efforts between Washington and Tehran. The conflict, now in its third month, has pushed up global oil prices and disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump said Xi highlighted the importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy supplies. Trump said China gets about 40% of its energy through the strait, giving Beijing a direct interest in restoring traffic. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent previously suggested China would work behind the scenes to help with reopening the waterway, according to remarks cited in the source material.

China is Iran’s largest trading partner and the primary buyer of its oil, the source material said. Chinese purchases account for around 90% of Iranian oil exports and provide tens of billions of dollars in annual revenue to Tehran.

Why the Strait of Hormuz is central to the talks

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical shipping corridor for oil and other commodities, and restrictions there have rippled through energy markets. The source material said the conflict has also contributed to higher U.S. gasoline prices.

Trump said he and Xi “agree almost entirely” on the situation involving Iran. He also said he was not asking China for “favors,” while indicating he believed Xi would want to see the strait reopened.

Analysts question how much influence Beijing can exert

Analysts cited in the source material questioned how much leverage China would be willing or able to use. Yue Su of Intelligence Unit said Iran’s leadership could prioritize self-preservation over outside pressure, limiting the impact of diplomatic efforts.

Damien Ma of Carnegie China said China’s diversified relationships across the Middle East and its relative resilience to energy-market shocks could reduce its incentive to press Iran aggressively.

Any next steps would hinge on whether Washington and Tehran can agree on terms for a peace arrangement and whether China chooses to translate its stated willingness to help into concrete diplomatic action around the Strait of Hormuz.