Trump warns Iran of limited patience as Beijing seeks Strait of Hormuz stability
Washington and Beijing coordinate diplomatic pressure on Iran as trade summit continues and energy markets react to regional instability.
US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran, stating he would not be "much more patient" with Tehran as he urged the Islamic Republic to reach a deal with Washington. The comments were made during an interview aired on Thursday night on Fox News' "Hannity" program, where Trump emphasised that the time for negotiation was now. "I am not going to be much more patient," he said. "They should make a deal."
The diplomatic pressure comes as oil prices rose on Friday due to persistent market concerns over ship attacks and seizures in the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude oil futures rose 60 cents, or 0.57%, to $106.32 a barrel by 0100 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate futures were up 54 cents, or 0.53%, to $101.71. Despite the tensions, Iran reported that approximately 30 vessels had passed through the strait, suggesting that commercial traffic had not been entirely halted.
Amidst the escalating regional crisis, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer provided insight into the diplomatic efforts underway in Beijing. Speaking to Bloomberg television, Greer said Chinese officials had made it clear during the US-China summit that they want to see the Strait of Hormuz reopen without restrictions or tolls. He indicated that Beijing would act pragmatically to limit military support for Iran, aligning with Washington's desire for peace in the area.
"With respect to Chinese involvement with Iran, our view is the Chinese are being very pragmatic, and they don't want to be on the wrong side of this," Greer added. "They want to see peace in that area. President Trump wants to see peace in that area. So we have a lot of confidence that they will do what they can to limit any kind of material support for Iran."
The remarks were delivered as President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping engaged in a second day of talks in Beijing. The summit, which began on 14 May 2026, covers a broad agenda including trade, artificial intelligence, and the tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. Trump arrived in the Chinese capital accompanied by a delegation of major technology executives, highlighting the economic dimensions of the diplomatic engagement.
US stock markets had risen on Thursday as the summit commenced, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining 0.8%, the S&P 500 rising 0.3%, and the Nasdaq Composite climbing 0.2%. Nvidia shares surged more than 2% following news that the US approved H200 chip sales to Chinese firms, reflecting a complex interplay between geopolitical security and commercial interests.
Analysts suggest that an oil supply shock triggered by the Strait of Hormuz crisis could threaten the Republican Party’s prospects in upcoming midterm elections. Allies of President Trump are placing significant diplomatic hopes on President Xi Jinping to help defuse the escalating crisis, recognising Beijing's influence as a key factor in stabilising the region and global energy markets.
