Iran conflict casts shadow over Trump-Xi Beijing summit

The escalating Iran conflict is dominating discussions at the Trump-Xi summit in Beijing, complicating efforts to find common ground on other disputes. The two leaders are grappling with fundamental disagreements on trade policy, technology regulation, and regional security. The Iran situation has become a significant flashpoint, with geopolitical experts noting that Beijing and Washington hold sharply divergent positions on Middle Eastern strategy. Sources expect the summit will yield limited concrete agreements on the most contentious bilateral issues, though both sides publicly committed to stabilising their relationship.