Why China didn’t hand Trump a breakthrough on Iran

Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s high-profile visit to China in May 2026, his first since 2017, yielded no major agreements on Iran despite efforts to pressure Beijing. Trump’s delegation excluded key negotiators like Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, and the White House had already tempered expectations for progress on Iran before the trip. During two hours of talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, both leaders reaffirmed the need to keep the Strait of Hormuz open for energy trade and opposed its militarization. Xi also expressed interest in buying more American oil to reduce reliance on the Strait, while Trump claimed Xi committed to withholding military equipment from Iran. However, China’s actual influence over Tehran remains limited, as it primarily supplies dual-use technology—such as a satellite system Iran later used to target U.S. military bases—rather than direct weapons. The core issue for the U.S. is China’s role as Iran’s largest buyer of sanctioned oil, despite heavy discounts and U.S. sanctions on Chinese refiners. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had previously urged Beijing to use its leverage to help stabilize the Strait, but progress remains elusive. Trump hinted at potential adjustments to U.S. sanctions on Chinese refiners after the visit but did not specify details. Analysts note that China’s strategy of ‘hide your strength, bide your time’ has allowed it to avoid deepening involvement in the Iran conflict while maintaining economic ties. Trump’s claim of a military equipment ban may be overstated, as China’s support for Iran often involves indirect, dual-purpose technology transfers. The visit left U.S. efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions and regional influence largely unchanged.