US President Donald Trump has taken a tougher stance on Iran, saying his patience is running out following a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
According to Reuters, the remarks came at a time when reports emerged of an Iranian official seizing a vessel near the coast of the United Arab Emirates.
During the Thursday meeting, both leaders agreed on the importance of keeping the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz open for global shipping.
It is worth noting that on February 28, Iran effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz in response to US and Israeli strikes, severely disrupting global energy supplies. China, a close ally of Iran and a major buyer of its oil, is considered a key stakeholder in the evolving situation.
The United States had halted airstrikes on Iran last month but continued its blockade of Iranian ports.
Negotiations aimed at ending the conflict and restoring a ceasefire have stalled after Iran refused to dismantle its nuclear program or hand over enriched uranium stockpiles.
Speaking on Fox News’ programme “Hannity,” Donald Trump said, “I’m not going to be patient anymore, they should make a deal.”
Commenting on alleged hidden uranium stockpiles, he said the United States needed the material mainly for public perception reasons.
He added, “I don’t think it’s needed for anything other than public relations, but I would feel better if I had it.”
Meanwhile, tensions on maritime routes remain high.
An Indian cargo vessel carrying livestock from Africa to the United Arab Emirates sank after an explosion near the coast of Oman.
India condemned the incident, saying all 14 crew members were safely rescued by the Omani coast guard.
The British maritime security company Vanguard said the vessel was likely targeted by a missile or drone attack.
Separately, reports also emerged of “unauthorized individuals” boarding another ship anchored near the UAE’s Fujairah port and taking it towards Iran.
After the meeting, a White House statement said Chinese President Xi Jinping opposed the militarisation of the Strait of Hormuz and the imposition of taxes on ships passing through it.
According to Donald Trump, Xi also assured that China would not supply military equipment to Iran and showed interest in increasing oil imports from the United States to reduce future dependence on the route.
With US midterm elections approaching in November, Trump is reportedly seeking Chinese cooperation to end what he described as an expensive and unpopular conflict. However, analysts believe China is unlikely to place heavy pressure on its key strategic partner, Iran.
At present, both countries have rejected each other’s proposals, leaving diplomatic efforts stalled. Iran has, however, allowed limited passage to certain Chinese and Japanese vessels under its conditions, leading to a slight increase in maritime activity in the Strait of Hormuz.
