United States President Donald Trump has firmly rejected claims that China has challenged his administration regarding its stance on Iran, highlighting his 'very good relationship' with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Speaking at a White House event, Trump stated, 'We haven’t been challenged by China. They don’t challenge us,' just days before the two leaders are set to meet in Beijing on May 14 and 15 to discuss the situation in Iran. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged China to leverage Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s visit to China to encourage Tehran to ease its control over the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global energy route. Rubio noted that China is significantly affected by the closure of the Strait, which is vital for its oil and gas imports. Trump echoed this sentiment, suggesting that China should consider alternative shipping routes to the U.S. Trump also confirmed that Xi Jinping had agreed not to supply weapons to Iran, despite earlier criticisms of U.S. military actions against Iran. Meanwhile, China has maintained a balanced stance, advocating for a ceasefire and peace in the Middle East, while continuing to work with the international community to restore stability in the region.