During a summit on September 25, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping engaged in discussions regarding the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. This meeting occurred as Iran proposed a seven-day plan intended to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and mitigate regional hostilities.
President Xi advocated for the United States and Iran to revert to the June framework, which had previously resulted in a temporary ceasefire. He encouraged both nations to resume negotiations towards a broader settlement. While Iran expressed support for this approach, it also pushed forward its own seven-day peace plan.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi outlined the details of the plan, which includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz and resuming normal maritime traffic within a week if the United States agrees. The plan also demands an end to hostilities, the lifting of the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports, the release of frozen Iranian funds, and the removal of oil sanctions.
The United States has not publicly accepted Iran’s proposal. However, discussions through mediators have been described as constructive, especially concerning nuclear issues. Despite these talks, Iran has stated it will not make concessions regarding its nuclear program, specifically uranium enrichment.
President Trump cautioned President Xi against providing any form of support to Iran, whether direct or indirect. U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue stated that China had assured the United States it was not assisting Iran.
The conflict has severely disrupted energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz and heightened tensions in the Gulf region, as well as in Yemen and Lebanon. In response to the growing regional security concerns, countries such as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey have been exploring closer military and intelligence collaboration.