US Treasury Secretary Urges China to Pressure Iran to Open Strait Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit

US-Iran War Key News Central Message (Central News Agency, Washington, 4th, comprehensive foreign report) US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent today urged China to step up diplomatic pressure to persuade Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz to the outside world. He also stated that US and Chinese leaders will discuss this issue at next week''s summit. According to Reuters, Bessent said in an exclusive interview with Fox News'' ''America''s Newsroom'' program, ''Let''s see if China can make a diplomatic difference in getting Iran to open the strait.'' Bessent stated that China buys 90% of Iran''s energy, ''so they are funding the world''s largest state sponsor of terrorism.'' Bessent called on China to join international efforts to open the strait but did not specify how Beijing should act. He added that China and Russia should stop obstructing relevant resolutions at the United Nations, such as a resolution encouraging all parties to take measures to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Last weekend, China escalated its opposition, for the first time invoking anti-sanction regulations to resist US sanctions imposed on Chinese refineries for purchasing Iranian crude oil. On the 2nd, China''s Ministry of Commerce issued an announcement, stating that in accordance with the ''Measures for Blocking Improper Extraterritorial Application of Foreign Laws and Measures'' promulgated in 2021, relevant enterprises are not allowed to comply with US sanctions against five independent refineries, including Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refining & Chemical Co., Ltd., which was recently sanctioned. Bessent stated that US President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have been exchanging views on the Iran issue and will communicate in person during the Beijing summit on May 14-15. However, he emphasized that the two leaders will strive to maintain the stable US-China relationship established by the trade truce in October last year. ''Our relationship has remained stable, which is also the result of the two leaders'' mutual high respect.'' Bessent stated that the United States has completely controlled the Strait of Hormuz by blocking Iranian shipping, and the new escort operation by the US Navy to guide merchant ships through this strategic waterway will help lower oil prices. He declared that high oil prices are a ''temporary deviation'' that will end in a few weeks or months. Bessent said, ''We are well aware that this short-term rise in oil prices is affecting the American people, but I am also confident that oil prices will quickly decline after this impact.'' He also pointed out that the supply in the oil market will become abundant. (Compiler: Qu Xiangping) 1150505 Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship is the power to protect press freedom. Download the Central News Agency ''First-hand News'' APP to instantly grasp the latest news. The text, images, and audio-visual content of this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.