Trump Warned Xi That Chinese Support for Iran Is Unacceptable, Envoy Says
US Ambassador David Perdue said President Trump told China's Xi Jinping that any Chinese assistance to Iran, direct or indirect, is unacceptable.
US President Donald Trump conveyed directly to Chinese President Xi Jinping that any form of Chinese assistance to Iran is unacceptable, Washington's ambassador to Beijing said on Friday.
David Perdue said the message had been delivered to the Chinese side weeks earlier and was repeated by Trump during what he described as candid and open talks at the White House. He characterised the US position as a continuing refrain rather than a one-off demarche.
"We made it very clear to them weeks ago that, you know, any help that they would give Iran, whether it be direct or indirect, whether it be intelligence or parts or military equipment, was totally unacceptable. President Trump made that very clear again yesterday. This is an ongoing drumbeat," Perdue said in an interview with CNBC.
Perdue said the two leaders were beginning to build a relationship marked by a degree of trust and a willingness to work through difficult issues. He added that each round of talks appeared to bring a deeper familiarity with the contentious matters on the agenda.
"These two leaders are beginning to develop a relationship of somewhat trust and also working on the issues. I mean, this was a very candid and open conversation, and every time they talk, I think we see a different level of intimacy about these difficult issues that we're dealing with."
The remarks underscore the pressure Washington is placing on Beijing over its ties with Tehran, and the emphasis US officials place on keeping that message consistent across diplomatic channels.