President Donald Trump said Friday that he believes both Russia and China are staying out of the ongoing conflict involving Iran, citing conversations with the leaders of both nations in a Truth Social post.
In the message, Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping assured him during their recent meeting in Beijing that China would not provide or sell weapons to the Islamic Republic of Iran. According to Trump, that commitment also extended to Chinese companies.
“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,” Trump wrote.
The president added that he trusts Xi’s commitment, saying the relationship between the two leaders factored into his confidence.
“Considering our relationship, I take him at his word,” Trump wrote, adding that he is also doing “very big favors” for the Chinese leader.
Trump also addressed Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying the Russian leader similarly told him that Moscow would not sell weapons to Iran despite the ongoing war in Ukraine.
“Likewise, President Putin, despite the horrible War going on in Ukraine,” Trump wrote, “told me that he would not sell Weapons to Iran.”
The president noted that his relationship with Putin remains intact, adding that it also remains in place with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Trump also reiterated his position regarding U.S. military assistance connected to Ukraine, saying he does not directly sell weapons to Ukraine but instead sells them to NATO countries.
“He understands that I do not sell Weapons to Ukraine, but to NATO Countries,” Trump wrote. “They pay full price, and how those Weapons are distributed, I have no idea.”
Based on those conversations, Trump concluded that two of the nations most frequently mentioned in discussions surrounding Iran are not taking part in the conflict.
“Therefore, two major Countries that people speak of often in terms of Iran are, in my opinion, not participating,” Trump wrote.
The president also warned that any decision by those countries to become involved would carry consequences.
“If they did, it would be very bad for them — Certainly not in their best interests,” Trump added before signing the post, “President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
Trump’s comments come as the months-long conflict involving Iran continues to generate debate in the United States.
They also follow remarks the president made weeks earlier during a speech focused on election fraud, in which he claimed China was attempting to influence American elections.
On Thursday, Trump expressed confidence in the military campaign involving Iran, saying the United States was outperforming expectations.
“I would say better than anybody expected could be done,” the president said, describing the progress of the conflict.
The same day, the House of Representatives approved a nonbinding resolution calling for an end to the conflict.
The measure passed by a vote of 214-208.
The resolution received support from 210 Democrats as well as four Republicans: Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Tom Barrett of Michigan, Warren Davidson of Ohio and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania.
While the resolution is nonbinding, the vote highlighted divisions in Congress over the ongoing conflict even as Trump continues to defend his administration’s handling of the situation and insist that major global powers such as Russia and China are not participating in the war.
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