President Donald Trump dismissed rumors, affirming he does not believe China and Russia are assisting Iran in the current war. He noted that both countries have "enormous stakes to lose" if they intervene and emphasized that if any aid is found, the U.S. will detect it immediately, which would severely harm both nations.
U.S. President Donald Trump posted on the Truth Social platform that he does not believe China and Russia are assisting Iran in the war against the U.S. and Israel. He added that both countries have too much at stake to risk supporting Iran.
Trump said he has seen opinions from critics and political opponents accusing China and Russia of helping Iran. He wrote that if any assistance exists, it is likely minimal, but he does not believe it exists at all because both China and Russia have too much to lose, and the U.S. would quickly detect such aid.
This stance aligns with Trump’s statement last July, where he expressed confidence that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin would not assist Iran. Trump cited a pledge from Xi during a May meeting that China would not sell arms to Iran under any circumstances, including through Chinese companies. Putin also reportedly confirmed he would not sell weapons to Iran.
Trump has warned that if China or Russia become involved in the Iran war, it would have severe negative consequences for both nations. Additionally, the U.S. ambassador to China revealed last month that Trump warned Chinese leaders against supporting Iran during a Washington visit and received assurances they would not do so.
In May, the Trump administration sanctioned several Chinese companies accused of supporting Iran’s military equipment network and providing satellite imagery that could help Iran identify and attack U.S. forces.
There have also been reports that China supplied Iran with a truck-mounted air defense missile system and helped Iran find ways to circumvent oil export sanctions. However, the Chinese government denies allegations that any Chinese agencies or companies provide military aid to Iran.
Last September, Trump denied reports that Iran received satellite images of a military base in Jordan from Chinese entities before an attack in July that killed three U.S. soldiers.
The war between the U.S., Israel, and Iran began on 28 February after the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran. Iran responded with missile and drone strikes against Israel and Gulf countries hosting U.S. bases.
The fighting has caused thousands of deaths and displaced millions, while significantly disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy transit route, impacting international oil and energy supplies.
Although the U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding in June following mediation efforts by Pakistan and Qatar, the peace process remains stalled due to disagreements on issues including navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, China and Russia maintain close ties with Iran. China condemned U.S. attacks on Iran as serious violations of sovereignty, while Russia warned the conflict could increase the risk of a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.
Amid allegations and uncertainties, Trump continues to insist he does not believe China and Russia are directly aiding Iran. Nevertheless, the relationships among the three countries and military movements in the region remain key issues to watch closely.
/sourceReuters/Anadolu Agency