Trump warns China and Russia against selling weapons to Iran

US President Donald Trump warned China and Russia against selling weapons to Iran, while saying he believed assurances from Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin that they were not yet doing so.

Trump wrote on Truth Social that, in his opinion, the two countries often mentioned in relation to Iran were not taking part. He said that if they did, it would be very bad for them and not in their interests.

His comments came amid reports that Washington is investigating whether Moscow and Beijing are giving Iran targeting information after a series of strikes on US bases.

Trump said Xi told him when they met in Beijing in May that China would not arm Iran under any circumstances. Trump said he took Xi at his word because of their relationship.

Trump also said Putin had made a similar promise, despite the war in Ukraine. Trump said Putin understood that the United States does not sell weapons to Ukraine directly, but to NATO countries. Trump said those countries pay full price and that he had no idea how the weapons were then distributed.

Trump has often used a more deferential tone toward Xi and Putin than toward some US allies, saying they must be respected as leaders of major world powers.