U.S. President Donald Trump has announced new dates for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, set for May 14 and 15 in Beijing. The summit was postponed due to ongoing U.S. military operations in Iran.
Trump made the announcement via his Truth Social platform on March 25. He and First Lady Melania Trump are also expected to host Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, for a visit to Washington later this year, though specific dates for that meeting have not been disclosed. Preparations for both visits are currently underway.
“I look forward to meeting President Xi — it will be, I am sure, a grand event,” Trump stated.
The summit was originally scheduled for March 31 to April 2, but Trump requested the rescheduling to remain in Washington and coordinate military actions in Iran. The new dates were confirmed by White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt.
U.S.-Israel Military Operations Against Iran
On February 28, Israel launched an attack on Tehran, prompting Trump to declare that U.S. forces had initiated a “major combat operation” against Iran aimed at eliminating perceived threats from the Iranian regime. He accused the Iranian government of funding and training militants in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Hamas in Palestine. According to Trump, the operation’s objectives include dismantling Iran’s missile industry and naval capabilities, as well as preventing global destabilization.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it had launched missiles and drones towards Israel and attacked U.S. military bases in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
In response to the U.S. military operations, French President Emmanuel Macron called for an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council. The European Union reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring regional security and stability in the Middle East.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed support for giving Iranians a chance to rid themselves of a “terrorist regime” and ensure safety for all nations affected by attacks from Iran.
On February 28, Trump stated that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was dead, a claim later confirmed by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). On March 1, the IRGC declared it was initiating the “most destructive offensive operation in the history of the Islamic Republic” against Israel and U.S. military bases. Trump warned the Iranian regime to abandon these plans, threatening a “very strong response.”
On March 2, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that the next phase of military operations against Iran would be even more devastating. On March 6, Trump called for a complete change in Iran’s leadership, stating he had several candidates in mind for a “good leader.” On March 8, Iran’s Assembly of Experts elected Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the slain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the third Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic.
When asked to comment on Mojtaba Khamenei’s election, Trump declined, stating simply, “We’ll see what happens.” Previously, he had suggested that the new Iranian leader would not last long without the approval of the White House.
President Trump has rescheduled a meeting with President Xi Jinping to May 14-15 in Beijing, citing U.S. military actions in Iran as the reason for the delay. The ongoing military operations against Iran have drawn international attention and prompted responses from various global leaders.