Trump heads to China as Iran tensions continue
President Donald Trump is preparing for a high-stakes trip to China this week, where he is expected to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
(NBC)- President Donald Trump is preparing for a high-stakes trip to China this week, where he is expected to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping as tensions surrounding the war with Iran continue to impact global markets and international diplomacy.
Ahead of the visit, Trump rejected Iran’s latest peace proposal, calling it “totally unacceptable,” though he did not publicly provide additional details.
Iranian state media reported the proposal focused primarily on ending the conflict and restoring security for shipping traffic in the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, but reportedly did not address Iran’s nuclear program.
Trump has repeatedly insisted that any agreement must involve restrictions on Iran’s nuclear ambitions and control over its enriched uranium stockpile.
“We have that very well surveilled,” Trump said. “If anybody got near the place, we will know about it, and we’ll blow ’em up.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also emphasized that the conflict is not over, arguing Iran’s nuclear infrastructure still poses a threat.
“There’s still nuclear material, enriched uranium that has to be taken out of Iran,” Netanyahu said. “There’s still enrichment sites that have to be dismantled.”
Meanwhile, Energy Secretary Chris Wright suggested on NBC’s Meet the Press that an interim agreement could potentially move forward even if every issue involving Iran’s nuclear program is not immediately resolved.
“Certainly that’s got to be possible,” Wright said.
Wright also acknowledged that Americans are likely to continue feeling the effects of higher gas prices while instability remains in the Middle East.
“We needed to degrade their infrastructure to project terror around the Middle East, to threaten oil supplies in the long run, and we’ll deal with this,” Wright said.
Democrats continue criticizing the administration’s handling of the conflict.
Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey said he opposes additional military support connected to the ongoing war.
“I will not support arms to the United States or any of our allies, including Israel, in a context of a war that is endangering our national security and Israel’s,” Booker said.
