Ceasefire, China and a ticking clock: Trump weighs Iran options under pressure

A planned visit by US President Donald Trump to China later this month is emerging as a key factor in Washington’s handling of the Iran conflict, with diplomatic priorities now intersecting with military choices.

The development comes at a delicate moment. A fragile ceasefire with Iran, mounting pressure over energy supply disruptions, and an approaching legal deadline in the US are together shaping the administration’s next steps.

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According to NBC, an unnamed White House official said the May 14–15 trip to Beijing is being treated as a “priority” and is influencing how Trump is weighing his options on Iran. The visit had earlier been delayed at the start of hostilities, and officials are reportedly keen to avoid another postponement.

Strait of Hormuz disruptions complicate high-stakes Beijing trip

Reports in The New York Times suggest that restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz and at several Iranian ports are adding to the complexity. These curbs are affecting logistics and security planning ahead of what is being described as a high-stakes diplomatic engagement with Beijing.

China has indicated that it wants to play a “constructive role” in ending the conflict. However, tensions remain over US sanctions targeting Chinese shipping firms and oil refineries accused of trading Iranian oil in violation of American law.

The situation has broader implications for global energy flows. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for oil shipments, has remained largely closed since early March, putting pressure on supply chains and adding urgency to diplomatic efforts.

‘Nobody knows what the talks are’: Trump on Iran negotiations

Even as geopolitical tensions persist, Trump said negotiations with Iran are progressing privately. “Nobody knows what the talks are, except myself and a couple of other people,” he told reporters in the Oval Office.

He also flagged uncertainty over Iran’s leadership structure. “We have a problem because nobody knows for sure who the leaders are. It’s a little bit of a problem,” he said.

Despite this, the President maintained that Tehran is keen to reach an agreement, citing economic strain. “Their economy is crashing. The blockade is incredible. The power of the blockade is incredible,” he said, referring to US-led pressure measures.

When asked about the possibility of renewed military action, Trump appeared non-committal. “I don’t know that we need it. We might need it,” he said on potential bombing.

War powers debate intensifies as legal deadline nears

According to CNN, the President is expected to receive updated military options from Pentagon officials as pressure on Iran continues.

At home, however, the administration is facing pushback from lawmakers over its war powers. Trump criticised repeated congressional efforts to limit his authority, saying, “They go again and again on the war power… I’m negotiating a deal with Iran… and every week, every three days, they put in a thing that the war should stop.”

The debate has now reached a critical stage. US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the ongoing ceasefire could pause the 60-day clock under the 1973 War Powers Resolution.

“Ultimately, I would defer to the White House and the White House counsel on that; however, we are in a ceasefire right now, which our understanding means the 60-day clock pauses or stops in a ceasefire,” he said, as quoted by CNN.

This view has been contested by Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, who said, “I do not believe the statute would support that,” adding that the approaching deadline raises “a really important legal question for the administration.”