Trump Warns China and Russia to Stay Out of Iran Conflict, Cites Assurances from Xi and Putin

President Donald Trump issued a direct public warning Friday to Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, cautioning both leaders against involvement in the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict and stating that any decision to supply weapons or otherwise support Tehran would carry serious consequences.

In a Truth Social post, Trump said Xi had assured him during a recent meeting in Beijing that China would not, under any circumstances, give or sell weapons to Iran, a commitment that extended to Chinese companies. Trump said he accepted the assurance based on their personal relationship. He similarly reported that Putin had told him Russia would not sell weapons to Iran, even amid the continuing war in Ukraine. “Therefore, two major Countries that people speak of often in terms of Iran are, in my opinion, not participating,” Trump wrote. “If they did, it would be very bad for them — Certainly not in their best interests.”

The statement came as U.S. forces continued military operations against Iranian targets, part of a sustained campaign aimed at degrading Tehran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and responding to Iranian attacks on vessels and regional positions. The conflict has already produced repeated exchanges of strikes, disruptions to maritime traffic through one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, and elevated risks of wider regional escalation. Analysts have noted that sustained pressure on Iranian military and infrastructure targets could intensify further if Tehran continues its current course.

Trump’s public reminder of the private assurances from Xi and Putin served dual purposes: signaling confidence that the two powers are currently staying on the sidelines while simultaneously drawing a clear red line against any future change in that posture. The warning arrives against a backdrop of speculation in Washington about potential deeper Chinese or Russian technical or material support for Iran, including possible targeting assistance, though Trump has publicly stated he trusts the leaders’ commitments.

Later Friday, speaking at the White House, Trump reiterated that he takes the leaders at their word. “I trust them,” he said when asked about the matter. Defense officials and outside experts have offered varying assessments of the practical significance of such assurances. University of Chicago political scientist Robert Pape interpreted the public warning as a possible precursor to further U.S. escalation intended to force the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and compel Iran back toward negotiations.

The broader conflict remains fluid. U.S. strikes have continued on a near-nightly basis in recent weeks, targeting military sites, radar systems, missile and drone infrastructure, and other assets linked to Iran’s ability to project force in the Gulf. Iranian forces have responded with attacks of their own, contributing to a cycle of action and reaction that has kept energy markets and regional governments on edge. Shipping volumes through Hormuz remain well below pre-conflict norms, while parallel threats in the Red Sea from Iran-aligned Houthi forces have compounded concerns about dual chokepoint disruptions.

Trump’s message to Beijing and Moscow underscores the administration’s determination to isolate Iran diplomatically and materially while maintaining military pressure. By publicly tying the two major powers to their reported private commitments and pairing those commitments with an explicit warning, the president has sought to raise the perceived cost of any deeper involvement. Whether the assurances hold and whether the current tempo of U.S. operations produces a change in Iranian behavior remain the central questions as the conflict continues.