Trump says Xi and Putin assured him they won't arm Iran, warns of 'very bad' consequences if they do

Trump's assurances

On Friday, Donald Trump took to Truth Social to declare that he believes neither China nor Russia is arming Iran, citing personal assurances from Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin. He wrote that during a recent meeting in Beijing, Xi told him "under no circumstances would he transfer or sell weapons to the Islamic Republic of Iran, and this statement also applied to Chinese companies." Trump added that, given their relationship, he "takes him at his word."

President Xi, during our recent meeting in Beijing, China, told me that under no circumstances would he transfer or sell weapons to the Islamic Republic of Iran — and this statement also applied to Chinese companies.

He then turned to Putin, noting that despite the war in Ukraine, the Russian president had made a similar pledge. Trump said Putin understands that the US does not sell weapons directly to Ukraine but to NATO allies, who pay full price, and that he has no knowledge of how those arms are distributed.

President Putin, despite the terrible war going on in Ukraine, 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 that weapon is distributed, I have no idea.

Trump concluded that the two countries most often mentioned in connection with Iran are, in his view, not involved. He warned that if they were, it would be "very bad" for them and not in their best interest.

Renewed hostilities

The statement comes as the United States and Iran have been exchanging strikes almost daily for more than two weeks, following a longer pause in the conflict that began at the end of February. The current phase is concentrated around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, though airstrikes have also targeted locations beyond the waterway.

Washington says its goal is to destroy Iran's ability to disrupt maritime traffic through the strait. Tehran, for its part, has been attacking countries across the Middle East, stating that its targets are American military bases located there.

Intelligence probe and sanctions

According to Reuters, citing four people familiar with US intelligence findings, Iranian attacks on CIA targets in the Persian Gulf at the outset of the conflict prompted American agencies to investigate whether Russia was assisting Iran with targeting information or drone technology. The probe reflects longstanding concerns about deepening military cooperation between Moscow and Tehran.

Simultaneously, Washington has imposed sanctions on individuals and companies from both China and Russia for helping Iran procure weapons. The sanctions are part of a broader US effort to cut off external support for Tehran's military capabilities, even as Trump publicly accepts the denials from Beijing and Moscow.

What the leaders said

Trump's post offered a rare glimpse into his private conversations with Xi and Putin. He framed their assurances as credible, stressing that he takes both leaders at their word. The warning that any involvement would be "very bad" for them served as both a deterrent and a signal that the US is watching closely.

The remarks also highlighted the complex web of relationships: Trump noted that his rapport with Putin remains, as does his relationship with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, though he did not elaborate. The mention of NATO countries paying full price for US weapons was a familiar refrain from his first term.