Trump Affirms Trust in China and Russia's Commitments Not to Arm Iran

Former U.S. President Donald Trump affirmed on Friday his trust in statements made by his Chinese counterpart regarding Beijing's commitment not to sell arms to Iran. In a post on his "Truth Social" platform, Trump stated that Chinese President Xi Jinping assured him during their last meeting in Beijing, China, that his country would not provide or sell weapons to the Islamic Republic of Iran under any circumstances, and that this declaration extended to Chinese companies. Trump clarified that he trusts President Xi's word "given their relationship" and the significant services he provides him. Trump added that, similarly, he received assurances from Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, that Russia would not sell weapons to Iran. He noted that Putin understands that the U.S. does not sell weapons to Ukraine but rather to NATO member states. These countries pay the full price, and Trump stated he has no knowledge of how these weapons are distributed. Trump concluded that these two major countries, often mentioned in discussions concerning Iran, are not participating in "this war," considering that their involvement would be "very bad" for them and certainly not in their interest.