Xi Jinping Urges US-Iran Deal as Tehran Sets Deadline

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged the United States and Iran to resume negotiations during a state visit to Washington on September 24, 2026. Meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House, Xi advocated for a return to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and a comprehensive agreement addressing nuclear issues to de-escalate the ongoing conflict.

Simultaneously, the Government of Iran issued a five-day deadline for the U.S. to lift military blockades of Iranian ports and reduce military pressure to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials warned that the conflict could expand beyond the Middle East if further attacks occur. Tehran also threatened retaliatory measures against neighboring countries, including Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Iraq, for enforcing U.S. aviation sanctions.

At the UN General Assembly in New York, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed willingness to reach a deal before the U.S. midterm elections in November and offered to allow nuclear facility inspections. However, he rejected any negotiations conducted under military pressure. President Donald Trump disagreed with this timeline, asserting that Iran is waiting for the election results before settling the conflict.

The White House condemned the Iranian regime for terrorism and indiscriminate attacks, while the U.S. Department of Justice recently charged an Iranian man in an alleged plot to assassinate Trump. The standoff continues to disrupt global energy supplies due to the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. military blockade of Iranian ports.