China's 80% Grip on Iranian Oil Looms Over Trump-Xi Summit

80% of Iran’s oil exports are now routed through China, a development that is dominating discussion ahead of the expected Trump‑Xi summit. Plataforma Media examines how China is sidestepping U.S. sanctions to sustain the flow, noting that Beijing continues to find channels that avoid American restrictions. アラブニュース asks whether this leverage could enable China to act as a peace broker in the Iran war, while NDTV reports that the conflict is costing the United States billions and suggests that Xi Jinping’s sway may present a viable path forward.

Yahoo Finance highlights a meeting between Bessent and Iran’s largest oil purchaser, indicating deep commercial ties that reinforce the oil partnership. OilPrice.com frames the 80% grip as a strategic lever that could shape the agenda at the forthcoming summit, potentially elevating energy considerations alongside traditional geopolitical issues.

However, the coverage does not specify how the oil relationship will influence the diplomatic agenda, and the summit’s focus remains centered on broader U.S.–China tensions. The potential for China’s oil leverage to impact any negotiations on the Iran conflict is noted but remains unresolved, leaving analysts to watch for statements from both leaders as the meeting approaches.