‘I hear yes’: Trump credits China for secret role in Iran ceasefire as he prepares for high-stakes Beijing summit

Trump also indicated that China may have played a behind-the-scenes role in bringing Iran to the negotiating table.

2 min readApr 8, 2026 12:37 PM IST First published on: Apr 8, 2026 at 08:30 AM IST
Trump Iran USPresident Donald Trump speaks with reporters at White House. (Photo: AP)

US President Donald Trump has described the agreement on a two-week ceasefire with Iran as a “total and complete victory”, while offering few details on what happens next if the fragile truce collapses.

Speaking to AFP shortly after the announcement, Trump said: “Total and complete victory. 100 percent. No question about it,” presenting the deal as a decisive outcome for Washington after weeks of escalating tensions, Reuters reported.

However, he declined to clarify whether he would return to earlier threats of striking Iranian civilian infrastructure, including power plants and bridges, if the ceasefire fails. “You’re going to have to see,” he said, leaving open the possibility of renewed military action.

A key issue in the conflict has been Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, which Washington says must be contained to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons. Trump insisted the matter had been addressed as part of the agreement, though he did not provide specifics.

“That will be perfectly taken care of or I wouldn’t have settled,” he said, suggesting confidence that the arrangement would neutralise nuclear risks.

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Trump also indicated that China may have played a behind-the-scenes role in bringing Iran to the negotiating table. When asked if Beijing had influenced its ally, he responded: “I hear yes.”

The US president is expected to travel to Beijing in May for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, amid broader diplomatic efforts linked to the ceasefire.

The remarks underscore both the tentative nature of the truce and the wider geopolitical stakes, as global powers appear to be shaping the next phase of negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

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