Anna Hartz
Trump says Xi wants Hormuz Strait reopened
Global politics and oil prices are closely connected. When conflict grows in the Middle East, the effects can quickly spread far beyond the region. Fuel prices rise. Markets react. Governments begin looking for ways to protect their economies and energy supplies.
Mutual agreement on Iran
That pressure is now growing again after tensions around Iran and the Strait of Hormuz pushed oil prices sharply higher. The waterway is one of the world’s most important shipping routes for oil and gas. Any disruption there can affect countries across the globe, especially major importers like China and India.
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Chinese President Xi Jinping agrees Iran should reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to Ziare. Trump spoke to reporters while flying back to Washington after two days of talks in Beijing.
The American president said both leaders agreed Iran should not develop nuclear weapons. He also said they both wanted shipping traffic through the strait to return to normal.
Still, Trump admitted he had not convinced China to pressure Iran directly to end the conflict. China remains one of Iran’s strongest international partners and continues to buy large amounts of Iranian oil.
When reporters asked whether Xi had promised to push Iran harder, Trump avoided making a clear claim.
“I’m not asking for favors,” he said. “Because when you ask for favors you have to give something in return.”
Climbing oil prices
China’s Foreign Ministry later spoke about the talks but did not confirm any agreement regarding the Strait of Hormuz. Officials instead said the conflict should never have started and should not continue.
Iran partially blocked the strait after attacks carried out earlier this year by the United States and Israel. Before the conflict, around 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas exports moved through the route.
The disruption caused major problems in global energy markets. Oil prices climbed to around 109 dollars per barrel on Friday. Investors are also worried inflation could rise again if energy costs stay high.
Iran says it does not trust the United States after previous negotiations ended with military strikes. Talks between Washington and Tehran have now stalled again after both sides rejected recent compromise proposals.
For now, the future of the strait and the wider conflict remains uncertain.
