Donald Trump announced on March 16th that his planned trip to Beijing may be delayed by approximately a month due to the ongoing conflict in Iran.
Trump Cites Iran Conflict as Reason for Potential Delay
On Monday, March 16th, Donald Trump informed reporters that his visit to Beijing could be postponed for roughly a month due to the war in Iran. The White House had previously announced the President’s trip to China was scheduled for March 31st – April 2nd.
Trump stated he is in discussions with China and would like to proceed with the visit, but feels compelled to remain in the United States given the current situation. He indicated a request was made to delay the visit by a month or so, while affirming his good relationship with China.
Financial Minister Addresses Potential Delay
Earlier on Monday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, following talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Paris, stated that if Trump’s visit to China is postponed, it will not be due to Beijing’s refusal to participate in operations in the Strait of Hormuz.
Bessent clarified that the postponement, if it occurs, would be motivated by Trump’s desire to remain in the country until the conflict with Iran concludes.
Trump Claims Iran Seeks Agreement
The American leader stated on Monday that Iranian officials are communicating with the U.S. side and are interested in reaching an agreement, though he believes they are not yet prepared. He acknowledged that negotiations are underway.
Trump questioned why the U.S. should even engage with Iran, but defended his approach, stating that positive outcomes can sometimes result from dialogue. He added, however, that Iran is “getting hammered.”
Uncertainty Regarding Iranian Leadership
Trump expressed uncertainty about who currently governs Iran, stating, “We don’t even know their leaders. All of their leaders are dead. We don’t know who we’re dealing with.” He noted that some individuals are seeking negotiations, but their identities remain unclear.
Regarding the new Iranian leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, Trump mentioned reports that he is “very badly damaged, lost a leg,” and that some claim he is severely injured or even deceased.