Asheville, September 2: U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant stated that during the G20 finance ministers’ meeting, discussions were held with China and Russia regarding Iran. However, he clarified that China did not make any specific commitments to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Besant noted that the Trump administration hopes to build on these discussions to foster further dialogue, as the U.S. seeks broad international support for its economic strategy against Iran.
After the two-day meeting in Asheville, North Carolina, he told reporters, “We have engaged in quite calm discussions with Russia and China, and I believe we can advance this dialogue.”
He emphasized that despite economic and strategic differences, there are shared interests between the U.S. and China concerning Iran. “Our commonalities regarding Iran outweigh our differences,” he stated.
Besant added, “China also believes that Iran should not possess nuclear weapons. They also agree that maritime trade in the Strait of Hormuz should continue freely.”
He pointed out China’s significant reliance on energy from the Gulf region, suggesting that it could play a crucial role in normalizing this vital maritime route. “China obtains nearly 50% of its energy from the Gulf region. Therefore, I believe it is also their responsibility to work towards a solution. Now we must see what steps they take next,” he noted. However, he later clarified that no concrete plan was agreed upon to open the strait between the U.S. and China.
When asked if China made any specific commitments, he replied, “No, I did not say that any specific agreement was reached. I only stated that we agree the strait should remain open.”
This leaves unclear whether China will exert its diplomatic or economic influence over Iran or directly engage in efforts to restore maritime traffic.
Besant remarked that discussions with Chinese officials during the G20 meeting were quite productive. He mentioned, “We had very positive and calm conversations with Chinese officials.” The U.S. Treasury Secretary also noted that many allied nations have offered to support the U.S. campaign against Iran, although he did not name any specific countries or announce particular sanctions or measures.
He stated, “Many of our allies have stepped forward and expressed their readiness to do whatever is necessary.”
According to Besant, this assistance could include intelligence sharing, economic intelligence, and access to entities supporting the Iranian government.
The G20 presidential statement released after the meeting also addressed the obstacles to energy trade with Iran. It emphasized that secure, free, and reliable maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz is crucial for global economic growth.
However, China objected to this paragraph, as well as other parts related to global economic imbalances, IMF oversight, and sovereign debt. Nonetheless, other G20 nations present supported the statement.
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. It is one of the world’s most critical energy routes, through which oil and LNG (liquefied natural gas) from Gulf countries reach major markets, including Asia.
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