As the world follows the developments regarding the U.S. military campaign against Iran, it seems President Trump’s latest social media remarks have stirred the pot once again—this time involving one of the globe’s major players, China. The President suggested that Chinese leader Xi Jinping might be willing to lend a helping hand in preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and ensuring the Strait of Hormuz remains open. It all sounds peachy, doesn’t it? Like a superhero squad of world leaders teaming up to prevent global chaos. But let’s not pop the champagne just yet.

According to a prominent analyst reporting from Tel Aviv, our pal Xi might not be as eager as Trump suggests. The analyst explains that China has its own set of priorities and helping Uncle Sam with Iran doesn’t exactly top their to-do list. China values maintaining a strong, anti-Western Iran for its strategic competition against the U.S. in the future. After all, who wouldn’t want a fellow member in the anti-West club? And while China might not fancy Iran having nuclear weapons, they aren’t exactly burning with desire to pressure the Iranians either. The takeaway? Trump might have to navigate these waters solo and abandon any hopes of getting a lifeline from Xi.

Further spicing up this geopolitical soup is China’s little dance with dual-use materials. While they’re not handing over weapons directly, there’s significant trade in materials that have dual purposes—civilian or military. Don’t you just love the ambiguity? It’s like getting a vague promise from a friend, “It’s kind of for civilian use,” they say, while billions in materials slip through the cracks. It seems the line between civilian and military is as clear as mud in this scenario. China’s interest in a strong Iran doesn’t change, leaving the U.S. to mull over its next steps in what feels like a chess match with more pawns than it can handle.

Now let’s pivot to Israel, where Prime Minister Netanyahu is keeping a watchful eye on these developments. The analyst points out that Israel’s leadership is less than thrilled about any potential agreements between the U.S. and Iran. President Trump’s administration is finding itself at a pivotal point—decide between agreements with Iran or resuming military actions. Should Xi somehow press Iran into negotiations, it might result in a delay, but Israel’s not eager to wait around—they’re more interested in energy facility fireworks over in Iran, and no, it’s not for a celebratory display.

Lastly, the buzz back in Israel suggests a desire for continued U.S. pressure, military or otherwise, on Iran. Prime Minister Netanyahu seems to be rooting for a show of force rather than peace talks. Any kind of agreement might just serve to fortify the Iranian regime—a regime Israel is all too keen to see weakened. As the world watches this geopolitical drama unfold, one thing is clear: it’s going to be a rocky ride. With the U.S., China, and Iran in the mix, it might be best to keep those seat belts fastened and the popcorn ready.