US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Washington did not need China’s help to end the war with Iran, as tensions continued to grow around the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking before a scheduled summit in Beijing, Trump said the United States would prevail in the conflict “one way or the other” despite growing international concern over disruptions to global oil supplies.
“I don’t think we need any help with Iran. We’ll win it one way or the other, peacefully or otherwise,” he told reporters.
His comments came as hopes for a broader peace agreement appeared to fade more than a month after a fragile ceasefire between the two sides took effect.
Iran was meanwhile reported to have strengthened its control over the Strait of Hormuz through new energy shipping arrangements with Iraq and Pakistan, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The strategic waterway is one of the world’s most important oil transit routes, carrying about one-fifth of global oil supplies.
US officials also said Washington and Beijing had agreed last month that no country should impose tolls or restrictions on maritime traffic through the region.
Trump is expected to discuss the conflict with Chinese President Xi Jinping during meetings later this week, with Washington hoping Beijing could encourage Tehran to negotiate an end to the war.
The US has demanded that Iran abandon its nuclear programme and ease restrictions around the strait, while Tehran has called for compensation for war damage and an end to American military pressure in the region.
As the economic impact of the conflict deepened, Trump dismissed suggestions that rising fuel prices and inflation were influencing his position.
“The only thing that matters, when I’m talking about Iran, they can’t have a nuclear weapon,” he said before departing the White House.
Oil prices continued to rise amid fears over supply disruptions, with Brent crude climbing above $107 a barrel.
The Pentagon also said the cost of the conflict had increased to $29bn, while recent opinion polls suggested growing public unease in the United States ahead of November’s midterm elections.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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