Xi Backs Hormuz Reopening in Principle, China Stops Short of Pressure on Tehran

🤝 BEIJING — Xi agreed Iran must open the strait. China's statement said the war shouldn't have started. 📌 LOOK CLOSER: The gap between those two positions is the story. Trump got a headline; Beijing issued a both-sides formulation that assigns Iran zero obligation. "Shouldn't have started" is retrospective blame-diffusion, not forward pressure. Tehran reads no Chinese coercion. Gulf allies read Xi giving Trump cover while delivering nothing actionable.