TEHRAN TIMES — President Donald Trump’s three-day state visit to China begins under the heavy shadow of the ongoing crisis in the Persian Gulf. More than 70 days into the joint US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, the conflict has settled into a precarious stalemate, thrusting Beijing into the role of a critical diplomatic actor.

The US Department of State has admitted that Washington entered a war of aggression against Iran on behalf of the Israeli regime.

Iran’s mistrust of the United States has deepened as Washington faces accusations of undermining the fragile two‑week ceasefire reached on April 8. From Tehran’s perspective, the United States is once again demonstrating that it cannot be trusted to honor agreements or respect regional sovereignty.

Iran’s Navy commander has dismissed President Donald Trump’s latest threats to impose a naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz saying the Iranian military is closely monitoring every move of the US fleet in the region.

US President Donald Trump said after receiving Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the White House that "There was nothing definitive reached other than I insisted that negotiations with Iran continue."

The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to convene an emergency session on Thursday to discuss the ongoing developments in Iran, according to diplomatic sources cited by regional media.