Xi agreed that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons, Strait of Hormuz must remain open: Trump after China visit

Washington, DC (US) [United States], May 16 (HBTV): US President Donald Trump said that the United States and China have agreed that Iran must not possess nuclear weapons and that the Strait of Hormuz should remain open following his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Trump met Xi during his three-day state visit to China, where discussions focused on the ongoing West Asia conflict and broader regional issues.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One after departing China, Trump asserted that the US has control over the Strait of Hormuz and claimed that Iran had suffered losses of USD 500 million per day over the past two-and-a-half weeks due to a US naval blockade in the region.

‘I have a lot of respect for him. On Iran, he feels strongly that they can't have a nuclear weapon--said that very strongly, they can't have a nuclear weapon--and he wants them to open up the strait. But as he said, they close it and you close them. And it's true, we control the strait, and they have done no business in the last two and a half weeks, which is approximately USD 500 million a day,’ Trump said.

Trump also said that Xi does not want to see a ‘fight for independence’ in Taiwan, warning that such a development would lead to strong confrontation.

‘We had a great stay; it was an amazing period of time. President Xi is an incredible guy. President Xi and I talked a lot about Taiwan. He thinks they cannot have anything to do with what they're doing. He's very much against what they're doing. We talked about Taiwan and Iran a lot, and I think we have a very good understanding on both. On Taiwan, he does not want to see a fight for independence because that would be a very strong confrontation. I heard him out. I didn't make a comment on it, but I heard him out. I have a lot of respect for him,’ Trump said.

He added that although he did not initially raise the issue, Xi brought up discussions around past US commitments regarding Taiwan.

Responding to a question on the 1982 assurances by former US President Ronald Reagan that Washington would not consult Beijing on arms sales to Taiwan, Trump said the matter was discussed during the meeting.

‘I think 1982 is a long way away. It was a big, far distance. I didn't say anything about it, but he brought that up. He talked about that being an issue, obviously. So, what am I going to do--say I don't want to talk to you about it because I have an agreement that was signed in 1982? No, we discussed arms sales too. We discussed Taiwan in great detail, actually. And I'll be making a decision. The last thing we need right now is a war that's 9,500 miles away. We're doing very well,’ he said. (ANI)