Trump Faces Pressure on Iran After China Talks Yield No Breakthrough

President Donald Trump returned from China facing mounting pressure over Iran after talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping failed to produce any visible breakthrough on reopening the Strait of Hormuz or ending the deadlock over Tehran’s nuclear program, Stephen N.R. wrote in an opinion piece for Gulf News.

US President Donald Trump and Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping held talks in China amid growing tensions over Iran and uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. (Photo: Daniel Torok,, The White House Flickr)

Instead, Washington is openly signaling that military options may be back on the table. According to The New York Times, top US officials have drafted plans for renewed strikes against Iran if Trump decides diplomacy has failed.

The report said US and Israeli forces are carrying out their largest military preparations since the April 7 ceasefire, with possible renewed attacks being discussed as early as next week.

The renewed tensions come after Trump dismissed Iran’s latest proposal while flying back from Beijing.

“I looked at it, and if I don’t like the first sentence, I just throw it away,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, Reuters reported.

Trump said he discussed Iran with Xi, whose country relies heavily on oil and gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. However, Trump acknowledged that he did not directly ask the Chinese leader to pressure Tehran.