Donald Trump Claims Xi Jinping Assured No Arms for Iran, Jokes About ‘Big Hug’

Donald Trump has claimed that Xi Jinping assured him China would not supply weapons to Iran, amid rising tensions in the region.

Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he had directly raised the issue with Xi and received a written response. He also linked the development to his broader push to keep the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz open — a key global oil transit route.

“China is very happy that I am permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz. They have agreed not to send weapons to Iran. President Xi will give me a big, fat hug when I get there in a few weeks. We are working together smartly, and very well,” Trump wrote, striking a mix of diplomacy and characteristic bravado.

Claim of Direct Exchange

Earlier, speaking to Fox Business, Trump said he had written to Xi urging him to halt any military support to Iran, and claimed the Chinese leader had denied such actions.

“I wrote him a letter asking him not to do that, and he wrote me a letter saying that essentially he’s not doing that,” Trump said, referring to reports of Chinese weapons allegedly reaching Iran.

Pressure on Iran’s Allies

The remarks come as the Trump administration ramps up pressure on countries it believes are aiding Tehran militarily. Trump recently warned that nations supplying weapons to Iran could face steep economic penalties, including tariffs of up to 50%.

He also defended recent US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, claiming they had delayed Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

“They would have had a nuclear weapon within weeks… and they would have used it,” he said, while criticising the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated under Barack Obama.

Regional Outlook

Trump expressed confidence that Gulf nations would avoid further escalation, adding that US actions — including a blockade targeting Iranian ports — had not faced significant pushback from major powers.

While Beijing has not publicly confirmed Trump’s claims, the remarks signal a potential diplomatic opening even as tensions in the region remain high.