President Donald Trump on May 12 (US time) said that he thinks the US does not need China's support to end the conflict with Iran, although the situation in the Strait of Hormuz continues to be tense and the prospect of reaching a peace agreement is increasingly fragile.
Speaking ahead of the important summit in Beijing, Mr. Trump told reporters that the US will "win in one way or another, peacefully or not". He is expected to discuss the conflict with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week.
However, more than a month after the fragile ceasefire took effect, the two sides have not yet made progress to end the conflict.
According to sources, Iran is consolidating control over the Strait of Hormuz through agreements with Iraq and Pakistan on the transportation of oil and liquefied natural gas. Some other countries are also considering similar agreements, raising the possibility that Tehran will maintain long-term influence on this strategic maritime route.
The US administration said that senior US and Chinese officials agreed that no country should charge fees for maritime activities through the Strait of Hormuz. China, Iran's major oil buyer, does not object to this assessment.
The US demands that Iran end its nuclear program and abandon control of the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran responded by demanding compensation for damages, ending US blockades and ending hostilities on many fronts, including Lebanon, where Israel is fighting Hezbollah forces. Mr. Trump has rejected these requests.
The US Central Command said that the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln is operating in the Arabian Sea to implement US blockade orders. This force has diverted 65 merchant ships and neutralized 4 others.
The Pentagon estimates that the cost of the conflict has now reached 29 billion USD, an increase of 4 billion USD compared to the end of last month. The conflict also caused gasoline prices in the US to increase sharply and contributed to pushing inflation to a nearly 3-year high.
According to a Reuters/Ipsos survey, most Americans, including many Republican voters, believe that Mr. Trump has not clearly explained the reason for the US war.
Meanwhile, Iranian media quoted an official of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard as saying that Tehran has expanded the definition of the Hormuz Strait area from the city of Jask to Siri Island. This force also organized exercises to "prepare to confront the enemy".
