BREAKING: Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to make a state visit to North Korea as early as next week, according to Yonhap.
So, to recap: Trump visits Beijing asking for help on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. Trump leaves. Putin immediately visits Beijing. Now Xi is heading to Pyongyang to meet Kim Jong Un.
This is Xi sending Trump a very clear message.
Trump arrived in Beijing as a supplicant seeking Chinese assistance on the Iran file. Xi responded by embracing Russia and deepening ties with North Korea.
Trump got played. Xi gave him a photo op and a press release, then immediately pivoted to demonstrate exactly where China’s strategic loyalties lie.
Iranian journalist Mehrdad Khalili:
Regardless of the truth or falsehood of what Reuters reported about Mr. Mojtaba Khamenei’s refusal to transfer enriched uranium outside of Iran... Tehran's experience regarding this matter is very painful for the political leadership. Iran handed over 11 tons of enriched uranium in 2015 under the nuclear deal and received nothing in return. Secondly, Trump tore up this agreement, which Iran had fully committed to, and launched two wars against Iran within a single year, focusing entirely on the uranium. How can Iran be expected to agree to transfer enriched uranium so easily in front of a U.S. president like Trump?"