US President Donald Trump has said his patience with Iran is running out.
The White House said Trump and Xi agreed during talks in Beijing on the need to keep the Strait of Hormuz open.
“I’m not going to be as patient anymore,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News’ “Hannity” on Thursday night. “They have to make a deal.”
On the key issue of Iran’s hidden stockpile of enriched uranium, Trump said the US needed to take control of it for PR purposes only.
“I don’t think it’s necessary, except for public relations,” Trump said in the interview. “I would actually feel better if I had it in my hands. But I think it’s more for PR than anything else.”
After Trump and Xi held talks on Thursday, the White House said the leaders agreed that the strait should be open and that Xi made clear China’s opposition to the militarization of the strait or any attempt to charge for its use.
Trump said Xi also pledged not to send military equipment to Iran. “He said he would not give military equipment, that’s a big statement,” Trump said on “Hannity.”
Xi Jinping also expressed interest in buying more US oil to reduce China’s future dependence on the strait. The leaders agreed that Iran should never obtain nuclear weapons, the White House said in a statement. Tehran denies seeking such weapons.
