Iran could become obstacle to meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping

"I don’t think the meeting is in jeopardy, but it’s quite possible the meeting could be delayed," said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Donald Trump is scheduled to visit China from March 31 to April 2 for the long-awaited meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, representing the heads of the world’s two largest economies.

Visit at risk due to Iran

Yesterday, March 15, the Financial Times reported that Donald Trump threatened to postpone the meeting with Xi Jinping if China does not help ensure security in the Strait of Hormuz.

"I think China should help too because China gets 90% of its oil from the Straits. We want to know before the summit," the US president said.

The US-China leaders’ summit was scheduled for the end of March, but Trump has now suggested it could be postponed for an indefinite period.

Trump–Xi meeting

In the coming weeks the US president is expected to arrive in the region for a pivotal meeting with Xi Jinping. China’s Foreign Ministry has already confirmed that the war in the Middle East will not prevent the summit from taking place, which is expected to address key disagreements between Beijing and Washington, D.C.

Recently, the leaders of the two countries held a phone conversation. According to Politico, the call served as preparation for the upcoming visit. During the discussion, the sides touched on various issues, ranging from trade disputes to external conflicts.

According to China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, dialogue between the US and China is "vital" to preventing global miscalculations.