Trump warns Russia and China against arming Iran, says Xi and Putin promised no support

Trump's warning on Truth Social

US President Donald Trump issued a direct warning to Russia and China on 24 July, urging them not to supply weapons to Tehran amid the ongoing Iran war. His post on Truth Social came after weeks of media reports suggesting that Iranian forces were receiving targeting assistance and other military support from Moscow or Beijing.

Xi assured me at our meeting in Beijing in May that under no circumstances would he arm Tehran.

Trump said both Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin had given him personal pledges not to get involved in the conflict, and that he believed them. He wrote: 'Therefore, two significant countries often talked about in connection with Iran are, in my opinion, not involved.'

If they were, it would be very bad for them, certainly not in their best interest.

Prior assurances and the Beijing meeting

Trump recalled that Xi made the commitment at their mid-May meeting in Beijing. The Chinese leader promised that not only would the state refrain from arms transfers to Iran, but the pledge also covered Chinese companies. 'Given our relationship, I take him at his word,' Trump said. He added that Putin had given a similar promise despite the war in Ukraine.

Trump explained his reasoning on military aid more broadly: 'He understands I am not selling weapons to Ukraine, but to NATO states. They pay the full price, and whether those weapons are passed on, I have no idea.' This framing suggests the president sees his own arms deals as not directly fueling the conflict in Ukraine.

Contradictory reporting on support

Multiple US media outlets have reported precisely the kind of assistance Trump now says he trusts is not happening. The Wall Street Journal, citing US officials last week, raised alarm that Iran's ability to hit sensitive targets indicated possible targeting help from China or Russia. In the early weeks of the war, several outlets detailed that Russia was providing Iran with information on US forces and potential targets in the Middle East.

I think he might be helping them a little bit, yes.

That statement was made to Fox News Radio in March, when asked directly whether Putin was aiding Tehran. At the time, Trump downplayed the likelihood, but his latest comments draw a clearer red line.

Context of the Iran war

The war has seen Tehran attack US bases in the Middle East, and analysts say the sophistication of those strikes points to outside assistance. The president's warning on Monday tries to publicly close that door while maintaining that his personal relationships with Xi and Putin are strong enough to prevent a wider escalation. The contradiction between his trust and the intelligence reports remains unresolved.