US-China are aligned on Iran, Tehran must make a deal soon: Trump

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE, May 15:US President Donald Trump said his patience with Iran was running out and that Chinese President Xi Jinping had agreed during their talks in Beijing that Tehran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump said later he was considering whether to lift sanctions on Chinese oil companies buying Iranian oil imposed by Washington ahead of his trip to Beijing. China is the biggest buyer of Iranian oil.

However, his comments gave little indication of whether Beijing might use its influence with Tehran to end a conflict it said should never have started.

"I'm not asking for any favors because, when you ask for favors, you have to do favors in return," Trump said, when asked by a reporter on his plane home whether Xi had made any firm commitment to put pressure on the Iranians to reopen the strait.    �"REUTERS