Trump thanks China and Russia, partners of Iran, for diplomatic help
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Trump said both Xi and Putin aided the Americans in sealing the deal with the Iranians.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Edward Wong
WASHINGTON – When US President Donald Trump gave thanks to those who had helped him reach an initial ceasefire agreement with Iran, he praised two world leaders he has called his friends – Xi Jinping of China and Vladimir Putin of Russia.
The leaders, he said, had aided the Americans in sealing the deal with the Iranians, or at least had helped set the conditions by not sending oil and gas tankers or other commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz to compromise a US naval blockade aimed at pressuring Iran.