NEW YORK, May 15 — US President Donald Trump said his patience with Iran was running out after he discussed the costly and unpopular war with Chinese President Xi Jinping yesterday, and a ship was reported seized by Iranian personnel off the United Arab Emirates.
The White House said Trump and Xi had agreed during talks in Beijing on the need to keep the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane open. Iran effectively shut the waterway in response to US-Israeli attacks which began on February 28, causing an unprecedented disruption to global energy supplies. China is close to Iran and the main buyer of its oil.
The US paused its attacks on Iran last month but began a blockade of the country’s ports. Talks aimed at ending the conflict have stalled, with Iran refusing to end its nuclear programme or relinquish its stockpile of enriched uranium.
“I am not going to be much more patient,” Trump said in an interview aired last night on Fox News’ ‘Hannity’ programme. “They should make a deal.”
On the key issue of Iran’s hidden stockpile of enriched uranium, Trump suggested it only needed to be secured by the US for public relations purposes.
“I don’t think it’s necessary except from a public relations standpoint,” Trump said in the interview.
“I just feel better if I got it, actually. But it’s, I think, it’s more for public relations than it is for anything else.”
In the latest incidents on the trade route, an Indian cargo vessel carrying livestock from Africa to the UAE was sunk on Wednesday in waters off the coast of Oman.
India condemned the attack and said all 14 crew members had been rescued by the Omani coast guard. Vanguard, a British maritime security advisory firm, said the vessel was believed to have been hit by a missile or drone which caused an explosion.
Separately, the UK maritime security agency UKMTO reported yesterday that “unauthorised personnel” had boarded a ship anchored off the coast of the UAE port of Fujairah and were steering it towards Iran.
Vanguard said a company security officer had reported that “the vessel was taken by Iranian personnel while at anchor”.
After talks between Trump and Xi yesterday, the White House said the leaders had agreed that the strait should be open and that Xi made clear China’s opposition to the militarisation of the strait and any effort to charge a toll for its use.
Trump said Xi also promised not to send Iran military equipment.
“He said he’s not going to give military equipment, that’s a big statement,” Trump said on ‘Hannity’.
