Friday, May 22, 2026

Trump Says Xi Promised Not to Provide Weapons to Iran

Input
2026-05-20 04:16:23
Updated
2026-05-20 04:16:23
[Financial News]  
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President of the United States Donald Trump speaks at a press conference at a construction site in the White House banquet hall on the 19th local time. Reuters, Yonhap
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President of the United States Donald Trump claimed on the 19th local time that Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China, had promised not to supply weapons to Iran. He made the remarks while saying that a planned attack on Iran had been postponed at the request of Arab countries. Trump said the decision had been only an hour away from being carried out.
According to the Financial Times (FT), Trump told reporters at the White House that China had pledged during last week's U.S.-China summit not to send any more weapons to Iran.
He said, "Xi Jinping promised me that he would not send any weapons to Iran." He added, "That is a beautiful promise. I believe him."
Trump said negotiations with Iran are still under way, but added that he had been close to ordering renewed strikes on Iran on the 18th.
He said the United States, its Gulf allies, and Israel were negotiating with Iran as a "team," and that Iran had been given two or three days.
Trump added, "What I am saying is two days, three days, or Friday, Saturday, Sunday, maybe early next week." He continued, "The time is limited, because we are not going to let them have nuclear weapons."
He said the trip to China was an "amazing time" and claimed that China shared his desire to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
However, despite Trump's claim that China had promised not to support Iran with weapons, U.S. Congress is raising questions.
Mike Rogers, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), said on the morning of the 19th that the war with Iran had awakened the United States to "who is not our friend."
Rogers said, "There are reports that China and Russia are supporting Iran during this war," adding, "All American citizens are concerned about this."
He then warned that if China and Russia make any effort to help rebuild Iran's military capabilities, there will be consequences.
In other words, Trump's claim that China promised not to provide further weapons to Iran cannot be fully trusted.
Meanwhile, international oil prices edged lower on the day after Trump gave Iran more time, but they did not fall below $110 per barrel.
dympna@fnnews.com Song Kyung-jae Reporter