Washington [US], June 24 (ANI): US President Donald J. Trump announced that China can now resume oil purchases from Iran following the ceasefire agreement between Tehran and Tel Aviv and expressed hope that Beijing would also ramp up its crude imports from the United States.
Taking to his social media platform Truth Social, Trump posted: “China can now continue to purchase Oil from Iran. Hopefully, they will be purchasing plenty from the U.S., also. It was my Great Honor to make this happen!”
In a separate update, Trump commented on his upcoming participation in the NATO summit, contrasting the relative peace in Europe with the volatile developments in the Middle East. “Heading to NATO where, at worst, it will be a much calmer period than what I just went through with Israel and Iran. I look forward to seeing all of my very good European friends, and others. Hopefully, much will be accomplished!” he wrote.
Trump’s remarks come just days after he helped broker what he described as a “complete and total ceasefire” between Israel and Iran, putting a temporary halt to a 12-day conflict that had threatened to destabilize the broader region. The deal, however, remains fragile, with renewed missile strikes and retaliatory actions by both sides shortly after the truce was announced.
According to CNN, Trump had personally overseen negotiations at the White House. Yet just hours before the ceasefire was set to take effect, tensions flared again. Israel accused Iran of violating the agreement by launching missiles, resulting in the deaths of four civilians in Beersheba. Iran, however, denied breaching the truce.
Frustrated, Trump lashed out before departing for the Netherlands, saying: “We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the f** they’re doing.”* He also directly criticized Israel, stating, “As soon as we made the deal, they came out and dropped a load of bombs, the likes of which I’ve never seen before.”
While en route aboard Air Force One, Trump reportedly made a phone call to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, adopting what CNN described as an “exceptionally firm and direct” tone. Shortly afterward, he posted again on Truth Social: “All planes will turn around and head home, while doing a friendly ‘Plane Wave’ to Iran. Nobody will be hurt, the Ceasefire is in effect!”
Behind the scenes, the ceasefire was reportedly brokered with assistance from Qatar. As per Reuters, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani played a key role in persuading Tehran to agree to the terms after a call with Iranian officials. This diplomatic outreach followed Trump’s conversation with Qatar’s Emir, where the US president relayed Israel’s acceptance of the deal and requested Doha’s help in bringing Iran on board.
Despite those efforts, hostilities resumed soon after the ceasefire was announced. The Times of Israel reported that Iran launched a missile strike on southern Israel, killing four and injuring others. Israel responded with a limited airstrike targeting an Iranian radar site north of Tehran. That response, according to sources, was scaled back following Trump’s direct intervention via phone call with Netanyahu, where they agreed to limit Israel’s action to a “symbolic” strike.
The conflict originated on June 13 when Israel launched “Operation Rising Lion,” aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure. Iran retaliated with “Operation True Promise 3,” involving missile and drone attacks on Israeli energy assets. This was followed by US-led “Operation Midnight Hammer,” in which American bombers struck three Iranian nuclear sites.
Iran’s response included missile attacks on US military bases in Qatar and Iraq, notably the Al Udeid Air Base, the largest US installation in the region. These exchanges heightened fears of a wider war, prompting accelerated diplomatic efforts to enforce a ceasefire.
While the ceasefire remains tenuous, Trump’s latest statement regarding China’s resumed access to Iranian oil suggests an attempt to stabilize markets and recalibrate regional dynamics. The decision may also carry economic and geopolitical implications, particularly in light of Trump’s hope that China will increase its oil imports from the United States as well. (ANI)
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