U.S. President Donald Trump said today that China would face "big problems" if it were to ship arms to Iran. He delivered the remark to reporters outside the White House amid a broader public assessment of the diplomatic landscape in the Middle East.
Trump struck a mixed tone on negotiations with Tehran. He said it "makes no difference" to him whether a deal is reached, while characterizing the ongoing contacts as "very deep negotiations." He framed the outcome as uncertain but optimistic from his perspective, stating that "maybe they make a deal, maybe they don't" and adding that "regardless what happens, we win."
The president also drew attention to heightened maritime activity in and around the Gulf. He said minesweepers are operating and are "sweeping the Strait," and cautioned that there could be "a couple of mines in the water." Those comments underscore an operational focus on securing key sea lanes in the region.
Diplomatic efforts continue on multiple fronts. Three-party talks between the U.S., Iran and Pakistan began on Saturday. Those discussions followed a fragile two-week ceasefire that was announced in a conflict described as lasting seven weeks, a war that has killed thousands of people and shaken global markets. The three-way talks came after separate meetings involving U.S. and Iranian officials and Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Separately, planning is underway on another diplomatic track. Negotiations between Israel and Lebanon are expected next week in Washington, D.C., adding another dimension to the broader regional diplomatic activity.
Trump's comments combined firm warning, operational reporting and guarded optimism about the negotiation process. He emphasized both the immediate security actions being taken at sea and the uncertain diplomatic prospects onshore, while reiterating a confident outcome in U.S. terms should talks continue or conclude without agreement.