Trump Vows To “Permanently” Open Strait Of Hormuz; Claims Xi Jinping Promised No Weapons For Iran

US President Donald Trump made waves on Wednesday by announcing plans to “permanently” open the Strait of Hormuz, a move he claims will earn him a “big, fat hug” from Chinese President Xi Jinping. The statement comes just days after the US initiated a controversial naval blockade of the vital waterway, a move that spiked global energy prices and drew sharp condemnation from Beijing.

The “Big, Fat Hug”: Diplomacy Over Conflict
Writing on Truth Social, Trump framed the opening of the Strait as a service to the global economy and a testament to his rapport with the Chinese leader.

Strategic De-escalation: Trump claimed that opening the passage is a benefit for China and the world, stating, “This situation will never happen again.”

Personal Rapport: Referring to his upcoming summit with President Xi, Trump wrote: “President Xi will give me a big, fat hug when I get there in a few weeks. We are working together smartly and very well! Doesn’t that beat fighting???”

The Warning: Despite the conciliatory tone, he ended the post with a stark reminder: the US remains “far better than anyone else” at fighting if forced into it.

China’s Pivot: Weapons and Tariffs
A central pillar of this sudden diplomatic thaw appears to be an agreement regarding Iran’s military supply lines.

The Promise: Trump told Fox Business that President Xi had “essentially” promised in writing not to deliver weapons to Tehran. This follows reports that China had been providing military aid to the Iranian regime during the ongoing US-Israel-Iran war.

Tariff Pressure: The “promise” comes under the shadow of Trump’s threat to impose 50% tariffs on any nation found aiding Iran militarily.

Beijing’s Stance: While China officially denied aiding Iran and previously called the US blockade “irresponsible,” the prospect of a massive trade war seems to have brought both sides to the negotiating table.

Context: The Blockade and Global Energy
The Strait of Hormuz is the world’s most important energy transit point. It has been effectively closed since the US naval blockade began earlier this week, following the failure of peace talks in Islamabad.

Energy Impact: The disruption has caused massive volatility in global oil markets, as a significant portion of the world’s petroleum passes through this narrow passage.

The Upcoming Summit: Originally scheduled for March, the Trump-Xi summit was delayed by the outbreak of hostilities. The meeting next month is now being viewed as a make-or-break moment for both the Middle East conflict and US-China trade relations.

South Asian Mediators
In a parallel development, a Pakistani delegation is reportedly heading to Tehran with a message from Washington, suggesting that a secondary channel for peace talks is being opened even as Trump engages directly with Beijing.