Overview
- President Donald Trump, departing for China on Tuesday, said the U.S. does not need Beijing’s help on Iran and warned Tehran to make a deal or face decimation, while still vowing a long talk with Xi Jinping.
- With the ceasefire described by Trump as on life support, aides told reporters he rejected Tehran’s latest 14‑point proposal, and CNN reporting cited by The Independent says he is weighing renewed strikes if talks fail.
- The administration tightened pressure ahead of the visit by sanctioning individuals and companies accused of moving Iranian crude to China, a step meant to choke off a key revenue stream for Tehran.
- At a House hearing Tuesday, Pentagon officials told lawmakers the projected cost of the Iran war has risen to about $29 billion as members pressed for clarity on strategy and legal authority.
- The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries about one‑fifth of seaborne oil, has jolted energy markets, with U.S. energy prices rising in April and China’s crude imports falling 20% last month.