Trump seeks to delay China summit as Vance denies ‘wedge’ over Iran war

Donald Trump revealed that he had asked China to delay his forthcoming visit to Beijing while the war with Iran was continuing, as he attempted to strike a united front on Monday with his vice-president JD Vance, who is believed to have been skeptical over attacking Tehran’s regime.

“Donald Trump revealed that he had asked China to delay his forthcoming visit to Beijing while the war with Iran was continuing, as he attempted to strike a united front on Monday with his vice-president JD Vance, who is believed to have been skeptical over attacking Tehran’s regime”

The Guardian

Appearing together with Vance for the first time in two weeks, Trump said he did not think the conflict – which started on 28 February after the US and Israel opened hostilities – would be over this week but predicted victory would be achieved soon.

But amid criticism that the US and Israel underestimated the vigor of Iran’s response, Trump has called on western allies and China to help reopen the strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint through which 20% of the world’s oil exports flow and which Tehran is now effectively blocking – causing oil prices to soar.

“Donald Trump revealed that he had asked China to delay his forthcoming visit to Beijing while the war with Iran was continuing, as he attempted to strike a united front on Monday with his vice-president JD Vance, who is believed to have been skeptical over attacking Tehran’s regime”

The Guardian

In addition to closing off and mining the strait – a measure Iran has repeatedly threatened over many years in the event it came under attack – the Iranian military response has included missile attacks on Arab gulf states, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain, all of which host US military bases.