United States President Donald Trump said on Friday he discussed Chinese oil companies under US sanctions for purchasing Iranian crude with President Xi Jinping, and will decide within days whether to lift those restrictions.
Speaking aboard Air Force One after leaving Beijing, Trump said the issue came up during his two-day summit with Xi, where broader tensions over Iran, trade, and energy security were also on the table.
“We talked about that and I’m going to make a decision over the next few days,” Trump told reporters.
The United States has recently tightened sanctions on several Chinese refiners accused of buying Iranian oil, including Hengli Petrochemical, one of China’s largest private refining firms and a key player in Beijing’s push to modernise its energy sector.
The anctions are part of Washington’s broader effort to pressure Iran by targeting buyers of its oil exports, which remain a critical source of revenue for Tehran despite ongoing conflict and restrictions on global shipping routes.
Trump did not indicate which way he was leaning on the policy shift, but his comments suggest the issue is now being weighed at the highest level following direct talks with Xi.
Any move to ease or remove the sanctions would mark a significant shift in U.S. pressure tactics against both Iran and Chinese energy firms, though no final decision has been announced.
