Donald Trump praises Xi before China summit, Iran seeks help on Hormuz

U.S. President Donald Trump, ahead of his trip to China, described the United States and China as the world’s two biggest powers and praised his relationship with President Xi Jinping, saying the ties are “strong and stable.” He said the upcoming summit would focus on trade and hinted that Xi could visit the United States later in the year.

Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Dr. Kazem Gharibabadi, said Iran expects Trump to press Xi to help resolve the Hormuz Strait crisis, which is disrupting oil shipments and hurting both Iran and China. Gharibabadi blamed the United States for higher global fuel prices and said Iran will continue to collect tolls from ships passing Hormuz, while emphasizing the deep historic ties between Tehran and Beijing.