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Economy May 12, 2026 03:18 PM

Trump Says He Will Discuss Iran with Xi in China Visit, But Says He Doesn’t Need Beijing’s Help

President frames Iran as under control ahead of first face-to-face talks with Xi in months amid stalled diplomacy and strained U.S.-China ties

By Leila Farooq

U.S. President Donald Trump said he plans an extensive discussion with Chinese President Xi Jinping about the war in Iran during his upcoming trip to China, but told reporters he does not expect to rely on Chinese assistance. Speaking as he departed the White House, Trump said he believes the situation with Iran is "very much under control" and that Washington will prevail "one way or the other, peacefully or otherwise." The visit marks the first in-person meeting between the leaders in more than six months as the two countries seek to steady relations stretched by trade disputes, the U.S. and Israeli military campaign against Iran, and other disagreements.

Trump Says He Will Discuss Iran with Xi in China Visit, But Says He Doesn’t Need Beijing’s Help

Key Points

  • President Trump said he will discuss the Iran war with President Xi during his China visit but said he does not believe he needs China’s help; potential impact on diplomatic leverage and geopolitical signaling.
  • The in-person meeting will be the leaders' first face-to-face talks in more than six months as the U.S. and China attempt to steady ties strained by trade disputes and the U.S. and Israeli military campaign against Iran - relevant for global trade and markets.
  • Beijing maintains ties with Iran and remains a major consumer of Iranian oil exports; developments could affect energy markets and countries dependent on oil trade.

WASHINGTON, May 12 - President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he will hold a lengthy conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping about the war in Iran during his forthcoming trip to China, but he added he does not expect to need Beijing’s assistance to resolve the conflict.

As he left the White House en route to Beijing, Trump told reporters: "I don’t think we need any help with Iran. We’ll win it one way or the other, peacefully or otherwise." He framed the matter as one Washington has largely under control and suggested China’s intervention is not necessary for a U.S. outcome.

The visit brings together the leaders of the world’s two largest economies for their first face-to-face talks in more than six months. The summit is intended in part to stabilize a bilateral relationship strained by disagreements over trade, and by the U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran, among other points of contention.

Trump is traveling to China at a time when the Iran war remains unresolved and diplomatic efforts to end the fighting are stalled. Beijing continues to maintain diplomatic and economic ties with Tehran and remains a major purchaser of Iranian oil exports, a dynamic that Washington has cited in seeking Chinese pressure on Iran.

Trump has publicly pressed China to use its leverage to encourage Tehran to negotiate a deal with Washington and bring an end to the conflict that began when the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran in late February. The president is due to arrive in Beijing on Wednesday, ahead of talks set for Thursday and Friday. The trip will mark his first visit to China since 2017.

Speaking further to reporters before departure, Trump downplayed Iran as a central topic for the meetings, saying: "We have a lot of things to discuss. I wouldn’t say Iran is one of them, to be honest with you, because we have Iran very much under control." His remarks underscore an early tone for the summit in which trade and other bilateral issues are expected to take precedence alongside any discussion of the Middle East conflict.

Context retained from official statements:

  • Trump stated he will have a long talk with Xi about the Iran war during the China trip.
  • He said, "I don’t think we need any help with Iran. We’ll win it one way or the other, peacefully or otherwise."
  • The leaders will meet face-to-face for the first time in over six months to try to stabilize strained ties.
  • Diplomatic negotiations to end the Iran war are at an impasse, while Beijing maintains ties with Iran and remains a major consumer of its oil exports.
  • Trump has urged China to use influence on Tehran to reach a deal with Washington; the conflict began when the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran in late February.
  • Trump is scheduled to arrive in Beijing on Wednesday, with talks Thursday and Friday; this will be his first trip to China since 2017.

Risks

  • The Iran war remains unresolved and diplomatic negotiations to end it are at an impasse, creating ongoing geopolitical uncertainty that could reverberate through energy and financial markets.
  • Strained U.S.-China ties over trade, the Iran conflict and other disagreements may limit the effectiveness of bilateral cooperation on regional security issues, affecting global trade flows and investor sentiment.
  • China’s continued economic relationship with Iran, including major oil purchases, complicates U.S. efforts to pressure Tehran and introduces uncertainty for energy markets and firms exposed to Middle East supply dynamics.

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