Amid Rising Tensions, Trump and Xi Hold Critical Call on Iran, as Washington Seeks to Isolate Tehran
WASHINGTON/BEIJING – U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a high-stakes phone call early Thursday, with the escalating situation in Iran dominating the wide-ranging discussion, according to officials from both capitals. The call comes as the Trump administration ramps up a global campaign to economically and diplomatically isolate Tehran following a series of confrontations in the Gulf.
The White House stated the leaders discussed "the need for a new, comprehensive deal with Iran that addresses the full range of its destabilizing behaviors." Beijing, in its readout, emphasized dialogue and de-escalation, calling for all parties to "exercise restraint" and safeguard the 2015 nuclear deal, from which the U.S. withdrew in 2018.
Analysts see the call as a critical test of the strained U.S.-China relationship, extending beyond trade into the volatile arena of global security. Washington is pressuring allies and rivals alike to abandon the Iranian nuclear pact and join its campaign of "maximum pressure." China, a signatory to the original deal and a major buyer of Iranian oil, represents a key holdout. The conversation underscores how the Iran crisis is forcing a recalibration of great-power diplomacy, with Beijing positioned as a pivotal player between Washington's hardline stance and European efforts to salvage the agreement.
Expert Commentary:
"This is classic crisis diplomacy," says Dr. Evelyn Reed, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic Studies. "The call isn't just about Iran; it's a probe into the state of the U.S.-China relationship post-Phase One trade deal. Xi is walking a tightrope—balancing China's strategic energy interests in Iran with the desire to avoid a complete rupture with Washington."
"A disgraceful display of American bullying," fumes Mark Thorne, a political commentator on his widely-followed blog. "Trump is trying to strong-arm China into betraying a sovereign partner. This isn't diplomacy; it's coercion. Beijing should tell him to get lost and defend the multilateral system he's trying to destroy."
"The economic implications are profound," notes Priya Sharma, an emerging markets analyst. "If China significantly reduces Iranian oil imports to appease the U.S., it disrupts global energy flows and hurts Iran's crumbling economy. But defiance risks secondary sanctions on Chinese financial institutions. It's a multimillion-dollar dilemma for Beijing's planners."
"We've been here before," observes retired Ambassador James W. Foley. "The geopolitics recall the lead-up to the Iraq War, with the U.S. seeking a coalition. The critical difference is China's economic weight today. Their decision will materially affect the pressure campaign's success or failure."