Iran war tensions shadow Trump's summit visit to Beijing

U.S.-China relations have undergone significant turbulence in recent years, with trade tariffs, technology restrictions, and competing strategic interests straining diplomatic ties. The two governments had reached a partial trade truce in prior months, but underlying tensions remained unresolved heading into the Beijing meeting. Separately, the United States has been engaged in prolonged negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program, with military options publicly kept on the table by the Trump administration. China maintains economic and diplomatic ties with Iran, giving Beijing a degree of influence over how any escalation might unfold - a dynamic that adds an unusual dimension to a summit primarily framed around bilateral trade.