China urged the United States to end sanctions against Cuba and respect the sovereignty of Middle Eastern nations during a speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday, September 26, 2026. Vice President Han Zheng called for the "relevant country" to lift its blockade on Cuba and stop using the threat of force, though he did not mention the U.S. by name. The remarks followed a week of diplomacy in Washington, where U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Chinese leader Xi Jinping for a state dinner.
The U.S. launched an oil blockade against Cuba in January 2026, which has contributed to frequent power grid failures on the island. Additionally, the U.S. and Israel began military strikes against Iran in February 2026. On Friday, September 25, the U.S. ambassador to China reported that President Trump had warned Xi Jinping against providing support to Iran, receiving assurances that China would not do so. These warnings followed reports that Beijing had provided air-defense missile launchers to Tehran.
In his address, Vice President Han stated that major countries have a responsibility to safeguard international peace by complying with rules and the rule of law. He specifically noted that the sovereignty and security of countries in the Middle East, including the Gulf region, must be respected. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke hours later at the same venue, echoing Han's sentiments by calling for Washington to remove Cuba from the state sponsors of terrorism list and end its trade restrictions.
The exchange establishes a precedent of public disagreement following high-level bilateral cooperation. Despite the state dinner and military flyovers intended to show unity between Trump and Xi, the U.S. continues to press China on its military exports, specifically shoulder-fired air-defense systems sent to Iran. The scale of the military conflict in the Middle East, characterized by one source as a "war on Iran" involving U.S. and Israeli strikes since February, places global energy security and regional stability at the center of the dispute between the two largest economies.
What happens next depends on whether China adheres to the assurances reportedly given to President Trump regarding Iran. U.S. sanctions and the blockade on Cuba remain in effect, with no specific end date reported. The UN General Assembly sessions will continue, providing a platform for further responses from the U.S. mission regarding the calls from China and Russia to alter its foreign policy toward Havana and Tehran. No specific dates for upcoming votes on these matters were provided in the reports.