President Donald Trump said Friday that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin have both pledged not to provide weapons to Iran, arguing the two world powers are staying out of the escalating conflict.
“President Xi, at our recent meeting in Beijing, China, told me that he would not, under any circumstances, give or sell Weapons to the Islamic Republic of Iran — And that statement included Chinese Companies. Considering our relationship, I take him at his word and, besides, l am doing him very big favors,” Trump wrote in a Friday post on Truth Social.
Trump said Putin made a similar commitment despite Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
“Likewise, President Putin, despite the horrible War going on in Ukraine (The relationship remains, as it does with President Zelenskyy), told me that he would not sell Weapons to Iran. He understands that I do not sell Weapons to Ukraine, but to NATO Countries. They pay full price, and how those Weapons are distributed, I have no idea,” Trump’s message continued.
Trump argued that the positions taken by China and Russia remove two of the biggest potential foreign military suppliers from the equation as the U.S. campaign against Iran intensifies.
“Therefore, two major Countries that people speak of often in terms of Iran are, in my opinion, not participating. If they did, it would be very bad for them — Certainly not in their best interests,” he concluded.
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Trump’s comments come nearly five months after his administration launched a broad military campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear program, missile infrastructure, naval assets and regional proxy forces.
The administration is now focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz after renewed fighting disrupted one of the world’s most important shipping lanes, while negotiations have yet to produce a lasting agreement with Tehran.
Administration officials have said the latest wave of strikes is intended to “make Iran pay,” though they have not publicly outlined the specific conditions that would bring the military campaign to an end or allow the United States to scale back its involvement.
Trump has also warned that the offensive could expand further, threatening additional strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities, bridges, power plants and other critical infrastructure.
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