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US President Donald Trump told visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping that any Chinese assistance to Iran would be “totally unacceptable”, US Ambassador to China David Perdue said, according to CNBC.
Speaking to the broadcaster on Friday, Perdue said the issue of Chinese support for Iran had repeatedly featured in discussions between Washington and Beijing and was raised again during Trump and Xi’s White House meeting on Thursday.
“We made it very clear to them weeks ago that any help that they would give Iran, whether it be direct or indirect, whether it be intelligence, or parts, or military equipment, was totally unacceptable,” Perdue said. He added that Trump had reiterated the message during the meeting.
US says there is no direct evidence
Washington remains concerned about what Perdue described as possible indirect Chinese support for Iran. However, he acknowledged that the United States had no direct evidence that Beijing was helping Tehran keep the Strait of Hormuz closed.
“There’s been indirect support, we think, but there’s no direct evidence,” Perdue said, adding that US concerns had been clearly communicated to China.
According to the ambassador, Trump and Xi agreed that Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon and that the Strait of Hormuz should remain open. He described the understandings as significant progress.
China-Iran economic ties
Perdue also said Washington had seen signs that Beijing was taking account of US warnings over Iran. “We've seen evidence that they have listened to us, they've pulled some things down,” he said.
Trump and Xi held talks and attended a state dinner on Thursday. Trump said the two countries had “never gotten along better”, while acknowledging that they represented different systems.
Xi said the leaders had held “sincere and in-depth exchanges” and reached a common understanding on several issues. He added that the talks had provided “new strategic guidance” for China-US relations.
China is one of the largest importers of Iranian oil. The two countries maintain a “comprehensive strategic partnership” based largely on economic relations and discounted energy imports.
Bilateral trade between China and Iran exceeded $41 billion last year.
