The summit between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump did not bring any new commitments regarding the Middle East or Iran. Despite the surrounding hype, Iran was not mentioned in the public statements of either leader on Thursday. However, a report from Xinhua indicated that Xi expressed hope that the United States and Iran "would soon return to the path of resolving issues through dialogue and negotiation." This report made no mention of any new commitment from China to assist in this process.
U.S. Positions at the Summit
David Perdue, the U.S. Ambassador to China, stated in an interview that Trump told Xi that China's assistance to Iran is unacceptable. Prior to this summit, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, had urged Trump to ask Xi to prevent Chinese companies from providing satellite imagery and targeted support to Iran.
Read more: Iran and the United States Dialogue Evaluated Positively
The Thursday summit showed no signs of Beijing agreeing to reduce any of these types of support. Grant Rumley, a senior researcher at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, stated: "China is fundamentally key to maintaining the Iranian regime at present."
China and Iran's Diplomatic and Economic Relations
Last week, China and Russia vetoed a proposed U.S. resolution in the United Nations Security Council, preventing the extension of the mandate for experts monitoring compliance with Iran's sanctions. This veto halted the continuation of this panel's mission, although the main sanctions remain in place.
China purchases about 90 percent of Iran's oil exports, and these purchases are often made at significant discounts. While these purchases have decreased during the war, they have not stopped. According to Kpler data, China's imports from Iran averaged 534,000 barrels per day in August. Additionally, China appears to have maintained its air communications with Iran despite new U.S. sanctions.
This relationship allows China to indirectly assist Iran while avoiding direct displays of government intervention. According to Rumley, "The nature of China's support for Iran allows Xi to justify not sending direct aid to Iran."
Read more: Iran Warned of Escalating Tensions from the United States and Its Allies · Oman Foreign Minister Meets with His Iranian Counterpart
