Swapna Kumbar , Bengaluru - US President Donald Trump traveled to Beijing for a high stakes summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping amid rising global concern over the worsening Iran crisis and instability in the Strait of Hormuz. The visit comes as Tehran announced a major expansion of what it considers the boundaries of the vital waterway, signaling a tougher stance over maritime control in the Gulf. Analysts say the growing tensions around Hormuz through which nearly 20% of the world’s oil supply passes are expected to dominate discussions between Washington and Beijing alongside trade, tariffs, technology, and energy security.

Iranian Revolutionary Guard naval official Mohammad Akbarzadeh said Tehran now considers the Strait of Hormuz to extend from the coastal city of Jask to Greater Tunb island, significantly widening Iran’s claimed strategic zone in the Gulf. The move follows months of military escalation, shipping disruptions, and Iranian attacks that have severely impacted global maritime traffic and energy exports. US officials accused Iran of attempting to hold the world economy hostage by tightening control over the critical shipping route, while the Pentagon continues deploying additional naval assets to the region. 

Trump, meanwhile, said he does not need China’s help to win the Iran conflict but acknowledged that Hormuz stability and energy flows would be key topics during his meeting with Xi. White House officials have repeatedly urged Beijing to pressure Tehran into easing restrictions in the strait, arguing that China’s economy is among the most dependent on Gulf energy shipments. Analysts say the summit places Xi Jinping in a delicate position as China attempts to balance its strategic ties with Iran while protecting broader economic relations with Gulf nations and the United States. Despite expectations for trade and technology discussions, experts believe the Iran war and the future of the Strait of Hormuz may overshadow much of the summit.

Trump’s China visit comes at a moment of mounting geopolitical uncertainty as tensions over the Strait of Hormuz continue reshaping global diplomacy, energy markets, and security calculations. While both Washington and Beijing are expected to project stability during the summit, Iran’s increasingly assertive posture in the Gulf highlights how fragile the regional situation remains and how deeply interconnected the world’s economic and strategic interests have become.