China's Interests in Iran Do Not Align with Trump's Interests
The US president is delaying his decision on how to respond to the brazen Iranian response, and during his visit to Beijing starting tomorrow, he will try to enlist Xi Jinping's goodwill to soften Tehran's…
Assessment
China's multibillion-dollar investments in Iran create a structural barrier to U.S. diplomatic leverage. Trump's upcoming Beijing visit aims to enlist Xi Jinping's help in softening Tehran's stance, but Beijing prioritizes a non-Western-aligned regime in Iran over accommodating Washington. The core tension is that Chinese and American strategic interests in the region are fundamentally misaligned, leaving Trump with limited options if China refuses to cooperate. The key question is whether Trump will escalate unilaterally or accept a constrained response.