TRUMP WARNS XI THAT CHINESE SUPPORT FOR IRAN IS ‘TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE’

September 25, 2026

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump told Chinese President Xi Jinping that any assistance provided by China to Iran would be “totally unacceptable”, US Ambassador to China David Perdue said on Friday. The warning was reportedly delivered during the leaders’ talks at the White House on Thursday, amid the continuing conflict between Washington and Tehran.

Speaking to CNBC, Perdue said the United States had already made its position clear to Beijing weeks earlier. He said Washington opposed any direct or indirect Chinese assistance to Iran, including intelligence, missile components and military equipment. Trump reiterated that position during his meeting with Xi, according to the ambassador.

The issue of Chinese support for Iran has become a source of tension in US-China relations. Reports have alleged that Chinese entities supplied Iran with dual-use components and satellite imagery connected to military activities. Beijing has denied providing military or intelligence assistance to Tehran, while the details of some of the allegations remain disputed.

During the White House meeting, Xi urged the United States and Iran to return to negotiations and resolve their differences through dialogue. Chinese state media said Beijing supported a return to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and called for a comprehensive agreement covering Iran’s nuclear programme and other issues.

The dispute comes as Washington seeks to limit Iran’s access to military supplies and economic resources, while China remains an important buyer of Iranian oil. The issue adds another layer of complexity to discussions between the world’s two largest economies, which also include trade, artificial intelligence and Taiwan.