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3. Trump Says Patience With Iran Is Running Out Over Strait Closure

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that his patience with Iran was wearing thin and claimed that Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed Tehran should reopen the Strait of Hormuz, though Beijing gave no sign it intended to intervene directly.

Speaking aboard Air Force One while returning from Beijing after two days of talks with Xi, Trump said he was weighing the possibility of easing U.S. sanctions on Chinese firms importing Iranian oil. China remains the largest purchaser of Iranian crude.

When asked whether Xi had firmly committed to pressuring Iran to reopen the strategic shipping route, Trump replied: “I’m not asking for any favors because, when you ask for favors, you have to do favors in return.”

Xi did not publicly address the discussions on Iran, but China’s foreign ministry released a sharply worded statement expressing frustration over the ongoing conflict. “This war, which should never have started, has no justification to continue,” the ministry stated.

Although the United States suspended its strikes on Iran last month, it subsequently imposed a naval blockade as part of Operation Project Freedom. Tehran responded by saying the Strait of Hormuz would remain restricted until Washington lifted the blockade. Trump has warned that the U.S. could resume military action if Iran refuses to negotiate an agreement.

“We don’t want them to obtain a nuclear weapon, and we want the strait reopened,” Trump said during his meeting with Xi in Beijing.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran had received signals from Washington indicating a willingness to continue negotiations.

“We hope that progress in the talks will lead to a positive outcome, allowing the Strait of Hormuz to be fully secured and maritime traffic through the passage to return to normal,” Araqchi told reporters in New Delhi.

In an interview broadcast Thursday night on Fox News’ Hannity, Trump reiterated his impatience with Tehran, saying: “They should make a deal.” He also suggested that Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile should be secured by the United States more for political optics than operational necessity.

Reuters reported that oil prices climbed roughly 3%, reaching about $109 per barrel amid concerns that diplomatic efforts were failing to ease tensions.

Meanwhile, U.S. Treasury yields rose to their highest levels in nearly a year as investors speculated that the Federal Reserve might need to raise interest rates to counter inflationary pressure linked to the blockade.

Following Thursday’s meeting between Trump and Xi, the White House said the Chinese leader had clearly expressed opposition to any Iranian attempt to impose transit fees on ships using the Strait of Hormuz.