Trump Expects Talks With Xi and Putin in China on Ending the Iran War

On November 8, President Donald Trump said he anticipates meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin in China, with the Iran conflict expected to be one of the key topics of discussion. As of November 9, no specifically scheduled meeting or agreed agenda had been confirmed.

The anticipated venue is the APEC leaders’ gathering in Shenzhen on November 18 and 19, according to a Reuters report carried by Investing.com . Trump’s comments described a possible broader discussion, including denuclearization, rather than a confirmed summit dedicated to Iran.

While speaking with reporters in West Palm Beach before departing for Washington, Trump said: “One of the meetings, I think, will be with President Putin and President Xi, and that’ll be interesting.” He also said the United States was trying to end the war in Iran.

Preparations Remain Unsettled

China’s Foreign Ministry has acknowledged communications about a meeting among the three leaders. However, the Associated Press reported on November 6 that nothing was set. Reports that Putin wanted to discuss Ukraine reflected Moscow’s preferred agenda, not one all three governments accepted.

The White House’s September 25 fact sheet advocated trilateral arms control negotiations and said Trump and Xi agreed Iran must never possess nuclear weapons. That statement did not announce a November meeting with Putin or an Iran peace process.

Iran Negotiations Continue Separately

Qatar is pursuing a phased arrangement intended to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restart nuclear negotiations, AP reported. Reported terms include lifting the US naval blockade, releasing some frozen Iranian funds and allowing international inspectors access to bombed nuclear sites, followed by reopening Hormuz.

Those measures remain negotiating proposals, not an accepted agreement. Iran insists that relief and an end to hostilities precede substantive nuclear negotiations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said talks are not near a breakthrough, AP reported.

Trump was scheduled to meet Qatar’s prime minister on November 9 about mediation, according to Axios . That planned discussion is the next reported diplomatic step, while confirmation of any meeting with Xi and Putin remains outstanding.