US President Donald Trump held direct discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping regarding the ongoing war with Iran and the blockade surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime choke points. The US administration confirmed high-level communications between the two leaders regarding the reopening of the obstructed waterway and Beijing’s stance on Tehran.
Addressing reporters at a press briefing in Washington on Friday (September 26, 2026), President Trump expressed optimism when asked whether progress was being made on restoring transit through the Strait of Hormuz, stating, “I think we are going to do something great.”
On the same day, US Ambassador to China David Perdue shed light on China’s position amid the escalating conflict during an exclusive interview with CNBC.
When asked if Beijing was assisting Iran in maintaining the naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, Ambassador Perdue remarked, “There is indirect support for Iran.”
He further revealed that President Trump explicitly communicated to President Xi Jinping that providing such strategic or indirect support to Tehran remains “completely unacceptable” to Washington.
Connecting the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, the narrow Strait of Hormuz serves as the primary conduit for roughly one-fifth of the world’s global petroleum supply. With maritime transit severely disrupted by the Iran war, fears of skyrocketing oil prices and supply chain bottlenecks have escalated globally. Geopolitical analysts view this direct communication between Washington and Beijing as a crucial juncture for restoring global economic stability.
