President Donald Trump’s top trade envoy said Sunday that the U.S. president exacted a commitment from the Chinese to not “provide material support to Iran,” but that the United States did not seek China’s direct help to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
“When the president went in, he did not go in asking them to take action in the Straits of Hormuz. He was very focused on making sure that they didn’t provide material support to Iran. That’s a commitment he obtained and confirmed,” U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on ABC News’ “This Week.”
Greer said China has “a clear interest” in reopening the strait — “I was in these meetings, and that’s what, that’s what the Chinese said,” he said — but without getting involved directly, it’s unclear whether China’s position will do anything to pressure Iran.
“The president isn’t seeking to have joint military operations with the Chinese. I don’t think the American presidents have ever done that,” Greer said. “But obviously we want to make sure that they’re not getting in the way of anything we’re doing to try to clarify that situation.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.