Trump Claims China and Russia Promised Not to Arm Iran

President Donald Trump announced on Friday that China and Russia have assured him they are not providing weapons to the Islamic Republic of Iran. In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed that Chinese President Xi Jinping committed during a recent meeting in Beijing that China would not sell or give weapons to Iran, including through Chinese companies. Trump stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin provided similar assurances despite the ongoing war in Ukraine.

While Trump expressed personal trust in these leaders, he warned that supplying arms to Iran would be "very bad for them" and not in their best interests. These statements arrive as Washington investigates whether Russia and China have provided Iran with targeting information used in attacks on U.S. military bases.

The claims follow a period of heightened conflict between the U.S. and Iran that began in February. This escalation has included U.S. strikes on Iranian leadership and 12 consecutive days of military actions following attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.