Trump Heads to China, Denies Differences Over Iran Between the Two Countries

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[The Financial News] Donald Trump dismissed any differences between the United States and China over Iran as he set off for a visit to China. The tensions stemming from Iran, which have rattled global oil markets, are not expected to become an obstacle to the summit between the two leaders.
AP and other foreign media reported on the 12th (local time) that Trump said he would have a long discussion about Iran when asked about his planned meeting with Xi Jinping at the White House before boarding Air Force One for Beijing.
Trump offered a positive assessment, saying, "Frankly, President Xi has done relatively well" on the Iran issue.
When asked whether Iran would be a key agenda item at the summit, he said, "We have a lot to discuss, but I wouldn't say Iran is one of them. We have the Iran situation very well under control."
Trump has repeatedly voiced open frustration, saying China, the largest importer of Iranian oil, is not pressuring Iran enough.
At the same time, he acknowledged that when ceasefire talks were faltering last month, the Chinese government helped prevent the situation from worsening by persuading the Iranian government to return to the negotiating table.
Rather than confronting China over Iran, the Trump administration plans to focus on more urgent and complex issues between the two countries.
These include easing trade tensions, a core issue for both economies, and encouraging cooperation to block exports of Chinese fentanyl precursors.
China has publicly called for an end to the war in Iran and is making mediation efforts through Pakistan, a friendly nation.
Ahmed Abudu, a Middle East expert at Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London, said, "China is very cautious and risk-averse," adding, "It is quietly expressing displeasure with both sides, the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. maritime blockade, while trying to avoid being drawn into a conflict that is not its own."
jjyoon@fnnews.com Yoon Jae-joon Reporter