Tamara Keith

And that is still on the agenda.

But now there's this pressing new global challenge.

Iran's foreign minister just recently went to China and met with his counterpart there.

And China is credited with helping to push Iran to accept that initial ceasefire.

You know, in some ways it is.

The war hasn't ended quickly and conclusively as Trump had expected.

He called the latest offer from Iran totally unacceptable.

A senior U.S.

official not authorized to speak publicly told me a better way to think about this is why would he not continue with this trip and all the other duties that he has as president?

Kurt Campbell, chairman of the Asia Group, says the timing is awkward.

And with a celebratory state visit at that.

So think about this.

China and Iran are close allies and trading partners.

And the U.S.

has just spent weeks bombing Iran and is now blockading all ships connected to Iran.

Campbell, who served in foreign policy roles in Democratic administrations, says the U.S.

and China both have reasons to move forward.

When this visit was first put on the books last fall, the focus was on keeping the trade truce between these two powers going.

And that is still on the agenda.

But now there's this pressing new global challenge, says Lyle Goldstein.