Trump Says Xi Jinping Promised China Will Not Send Military Equipment To Iran

President Donald Trump said Thursday that Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged Beijing would not provide military equipment to Iran — a potentially major geopolitical breakthrough as the White House ramps up pressure on Tehran and its global backers.

Speaking with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Trump described the statement from Xi as one of the most significant moments from their high-stakes talks.

“Xi said he’s not going to give military equipment. That’s a big statement,” Trump said. “He said that strongly.”

The comment lands at a pivotal moment for the administration, which has increasingly framed Communist China not only as America’s chief economic rival, but as a financial and logistical lifeline for hostile regimes including Iran.

U.S. officials have repeatedly accused Beijing of helping prop up Tehran through massive oil purchases, intermediary networks and exports of dual-use materials with potential military applications.

Now, Trump appears eager to claim a diplomatic win.

The president also revealed that Xi offered to help de-escalate the broader Iran conflict.

“He said, if I can be of any help at all, I would like to be of help,” Trump said.

Still, Trump made clear that tensions remain beneath the surface.

According to the president, Xi pushed for stability in the Strait of Hormuz, the critical global shipping lane that handles a massive share of the world’s oil supply.

“But at the same time, he said they buy a lot of their oil there, and they’d like to keep doing that,” Trump said. “He’d like to see Hormuz Strait opened.”

Trump responded bluntly.

“I said, well, we didn’t stop it. They did it.”

China remains one of the largest buyers of Iranian crude oil, importing an estimated $31 billion to $32 billion annually, according to Reuters. Beijing has openly resisted U.S. sanctions targeting Iranian energy exports and earlier this year ordered Chinese firms to ignore American restrictions tied to Iranian oil purchases.

The Chinese Commerce Ministry invoked a 2021 “blocking statute” prohibiting companies from complying with what Beijing calls “illegitimate” foreign sanctions — a direct rebuke to Washington.

That move specifically shielded several independent Chinese refiners accused by the U.S. of processing sanctioned Iranian crude.

Trump also mocked reports that Iran-linked actors may be charging tolls tied to passage through Hormuz.

“He didn’t like the fact that they’re charging tolls,” Trump said of Xi. “I don’t know if they are or not. I don’t know who would pay him.”

“Where’s the money going?” Trump added. “Countries decimated, and they’re charging tolls.”

But amid the tough rhetoric, Trump hinted at what could become a major economic agreement between Washington and Beijing.

The president said he believes China could soon begin buying large amounts of American oil.

“They’re going to go to Texas,” Trump said. “We’re going to start sending Chinese ships to Texas and to Louisiana and to Alaska.”

“And I think that was another thing that was agreed to. That’s a big thing.”

Watch the clip above.