President Trump announced that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed not to sell arms to Iran.
“President Xi, at our recent meeting in Beijing, China, told me that he would not, under any circumstances, give or sell Weapons to the Islamic Republic of Iran — And that statement included Chinese Companies. Considering our relationship, I take him at his word and, besides, l am doing him very big favors, also,” he wrote on Truth Social. “Likewise, President Putin, despite the horrible War going on in Ukraine (The relationship remains, as it does with President Zelenskyy), 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 those Weapons are distributed, I have no idea.”
Trump warned against China and Russia’s involvement with Iran in any capacity. “Therefore, two major Countries that people speak of often in terms of Iran are, in my opinion, not participating,” he wrote. “If they did, it would be very bad for them — Certainly not in their best interests.”
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC News’ Kristen Welker in March that a “military cooperation between Iran and Russia is not something new. It’s not a secret. It has been in the past, and it’s still there, and will continue in the future.” He noted that Russia is “helping us in many different directions.”
U.S. intelligence assessments have reportedly found that Russia provided Iran with information that could help identify the locations of American warships, aircraft, and other military assets operating in the Middle East.
