President Donald Trump has stated that both China and Russia have assured him they will not sell weapons to Iran. In a social media post, Trump said that President Xi Jinping told him during their recent meeting in Beijing that China would not provide or sell weapons to Iran. Similarly, Vladimir Putin reportedly assured Trump that Russia would not sell weapons to Iran despite the ongoing war in Ukraine. Trump emphasized that if either country were to arm Iran, it would be 'very bad for them' and 'certainly not in their best interests.'
Western intelligence reports earlier this year suggested that Russia had sent drones, food, and medicine to Iran, while China was believed to have considered shipping air defense systems to the country. However, Trump’s statements contradict these reports, asserting that neither country is participating in the conflict with Iran.
The comments come amid heightened tensions in the region, including Iran’s execution of over 100 people last month, including three women, as human rights groups warn of escalating repression. Tehran has restarted capital punishment to clamp down on protests, with over 50 killed in demonstrations—the largest since the 1979 revolution. Experts fear executions will increase after ceasefire proposals collapsed.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee, acknowledging attempts at 'adversary alignment' between Russia, China, and Iran but declined to specify the extent, citing classified information. Meanwhile, Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, avoided commenting on specifics to prevent divulging intelligence to adversaries.