United States President Donald Trump has warned Russia and China against providing military support to Iran, saying any decision to arm Tehran would have serious consequences and would not be in the interests of either country.
The warning comes amid heightened tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel, with concerns growing over the possibility of outside powers becoming more directly involved in the conflict.
Speaking about the issue, Trump said both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping had assured him that their governments were not supplying weapons to Iran or participating in the ongoing hostilities.
According to the US president, Xi gave the assurance during a recent meeting in Beijing, where he reportedly stated that China would not sell or transfer weapons to Tehran under any circumstances.
Trump also said Putin conveyed a similar position, telling him that Russia had no intention of providing military equipment to Iran despite Moscow’s continued involvement in the war in Ukraine.
While expressing confidence that neither country is currently arming Iran, Trump cautioned that any shift in their position would have significant consequences.
He added that although Russia and China are frequently linked to discussions surrounding Iran, he does not believe either nation is actively supporting Tehran militarily, noting that such a move would not serve their strategic interests.
The comments come against the backdrop of earlier Western intelligence reports alleging that Russia had supplied Iran with drones, food and medical assistance, while China was reportedly considering the delivery of air defence systems. Neither Moscow nor Beijing has publicly confirmed those claims.
Meanwhile, reports have also raised fresh concerns over Iran’s human rights record.
According to information cited in recent reports, more than 100 people have reportedly been executed in Iran over the past month, including three women, as authorities continue to crack down on anti-government protests.
Human rights groups say the executions resumed weeks after fighting involving Iran, the United States and Israel intensified earlier this year, with dozens of protesters reportedly killed during the unrest.
Analysts have warned that the situation could deteriorate further if diplomatic efforts to ease tensions fail.