Trump says he will discuss Iran and Taiwan with Xi Jinping... additional sanctions on China-related entities

[The Financial News] Donald Trump, who is set to travel to China from the 13th to the 15th, said he will discuss Iran with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Just before Trump's visit, the U.S. government imposed additional sanctions on companies and others that sold Iranian oil to China.
According to foreign media including Turkey's Anadolu Agency, Trump met reporters at the White House in Washington, D.C., on the 11th and spoke about his upcoming trip to China. Asked whether the agenda for the summit with Xi had changed because of stalled negotiations to end the war with Iran, he said, "China imports 40% of its crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz, so President Xi also wants this situation resolved." Trump explained that the United States is controlling Iran-related vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and nearby Iranian ports, adding, "No bad ships are getting in. We have only had small-scale clashes." He then said, "I respect President Xi very much, and I hope he respects me as well."
When asked whether the United States should continue selling weapons to Taiwan, Trump replied, "I plan to discuss that with President Xi." He explained, "That is because President Xi wants us not to sell weapons."
In an interview, Trump also referred to Xi's title and stressed, "Except for the COVID-19 pandemic, I have gotten along fairly well with President Xi." He added, "People often criticize me and say, 'That's terrible' when I say I have a good relationship with President Xi, who governs 1.4 billion Chinese people with an iron fist, but he is someone who truly loves his country."
He went on to say, "This meeting could produce many positive results," adding, "I think the Taiwan issue will probably be raised first by Xi's side." Trump also reiterated, "We will also talk about energy issues and Iran."
Trump, who is visiting China for the first time in about nine years since his first term, is expected to arrive in Beijing on the evening of the 13th. He will hold a summit with Xi on the 14th and return home on the 15th. Foreign media outlets predicted that Trump will meet Xi at least six times during the trip.
China, which imports about 90% of Iran's oil exports and maintains close ties with Iran, has indirectly exercised influence in the Iran War. Foreign media speculated that Trump may press Xi to increase pressure on Iran during his visit to China this month.
On the 11th, OFAC at the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated nine companies and three individuals based in Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and elsewhere for sanctions on charges of supporting the export of Iranian crude oil to China, putting pressure on both Iran and China at the same time. All three individuals added to the sanctions list are Iranian nationals, while the nine companies include four in Hong Kong, four in the UAE, and one in Oman. The State Department and the Treasury Department also imposed sanctions on the 8th against Chinese satellite companies and firms that helped Iran import Chinese-made portable surface-to-air missiles.




pjw@fnnews.com Park Jong-won Reporter