Date: May 14, 2026 l Reporter: Jan Porch
The White House has announced that U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have agreed that Iran must never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon, following high-level discussions held during a diplomatic meeting in Beijing.
According to the official readout of the talks, both leaders aligned on a firm position regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions, describing it as a shared priority despite broader geopolitical tensions between Washington and Beijing.
The agreement was reached as part of wider discussions covering international security, trade relations, and ongoing instability in the Middle East, particularly surrounding tensions in the Persian Gulf region and the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
In addition to the nuclear issue, the two leaders also emphasized the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open for global energy transport, with both sides stressing the need for free and uninterrupted maritime navigation.
The White House further stated that China expressed opposition to any attempts to militarize the waterway or impose restrictions on shipping traffic, while also signaling interest in increasing energy trade with the United States.
The meeting comes at a time of heightened global concern over energy security, with ongoing instability in the Middle East affecting oil markets and international shipping routes. Analysts say the joint statement on Iran reflects a rare area of alignment between the two global powers, even as they remain divided on issues such as trade, technology, and regional influence.
Both Washington and Beijing have maintained that preventing nuclear proliferation remains a core international security objective, particularly as tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East.
The White House is expected to release further details on the broader outcomes of the summit in the coming days.