Iran at the forefront: Trump reveals what he will discuss with Xi

President Donald Trump confirmed that the Iran file will be present in his discussions with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, who has begun a state visit to the United States, amid anticipation over the political, economic, and security issues that will be discussed by the leaders of the world’s two largest economies.

Trump and Xi discussions

Trump told reporters, after welcoming President Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington, that he will speak with Xi about Iran alongside numerous other issues.

This follows an agreement between Trump and Xi during Trump’s visit to China last May, when they stated that Iran must not possess a nuclear weapon, and called for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and rejecting any fees on passage through it.

Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcomed Xi and his wife upon their arrival at Andrews Air Force Base, marking the start of the state visit, which will last until Friday.

The U.S. president headed to the airport to greet his guest at the aircraft’s stairs before the official program of the visit began.

The White House confirmed that Trump and Melania would receive President Xi and his wife at the base on Wednesday evening.

The reception precedes formal ceremonies at the White House, including meetings between the two sides and a formal dinner on Thursday evening, before concluding the visit on Friday.

Iran on the agenda

The Iran file is expected to receive significant attention during the talks, as Xi’s visit coincides with ongoing conflict and efforts to push Washington and Tehran toward a resolution.

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi had urged Iran and the United States days before Xi’s visit to exercise restraint and return to the interim peace agreement reached in June, resume consultations, and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The talks also come amid American expectations that Beijing will use its influence over the Iran file, while Reuters reports suggest doubts remain about China’s ability to bring about a major shift in Tehran’s stance.

Taiwan a point of contention

Besides Iran, Taiwan remains one of the most prominent points of contention between Washington and Beijing.

China opposes U.S. arms sales to the island, while the United States has continued supplying Taiwan with defensive weapons for decades.

Analyses preceding the summit anticipated that Taiwan would be among the sensitive issues raised during the meeting between the two presidents, along with trade relations and the war with Iran.

Artificial intelligence also features prominently among the expected topics, following Washington’s proposal to Beijing to establish a mechanism for notifying the other side of serious incidents related to artificial intelligence that could reach the level of threatening national security.

The proposal was discussed during talks between U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, paving the way for its presentation to Trump and Xi during the summit.

The proposal aims to increase transparency between the United States and China in the field of artificial intelligence and open a dialogue channel between the two powers in this sector.

Official program

The White House is scheduled to host a formal dinner for President Xi and his wife on Thursday evening, following official welcoming ceremonies that include speeches by Trump and Xi.

The state visit concludes on Friday, when Trump and Melania will receive President Xi and his wife once again before heading to the National Archives in Washington, marking the end of the visit.