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U.S. President Donald Trump has dismissed claims that China and Russia are assisting Iran in its war with the United States and Israel, saying any support would be limited and that Washington would quickly detect it.
"If they are, it’s at a very low level, but I don’t believe they are at all," Trump wrote Monday on his Truth Social platform, responding to comments from critics and opponents who alleged that Beijing and Moscow were helping Tehran.
"They have too much to lose, and we would know about it, and know about it very fast!" he added.
Beijing and Moscow maintain close relations with Iran but have taken different positions on the conflict. China has condemned U.S. attacks on Iran as violations of Iranian sovereignty, while Russia has warned that the war could trigger a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.
Trump has previously described Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin as neutral in the conflict, which began on Feb. 28 when the United States and Israel attacked Iran.
He reiterated his position in July, when he said Xi had assured him that Beijing would not supply weapons to Iran, including through Chinese companies. Putin had also told Trump that Moscow would not sell weapons to Tehran, he said.
Trump warned at the time that any involvement by either country would carry consequences, saying "it would be very bad for them." Last month, Trump also warned Xi against providing assistance to Iran during the Chinese leader's visit to Washington, according to U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue.
The Trump administration has previously taken action against Chinese companies over alleged links to Iran's military operations.
In May, Washington sanctioned several Chinese companies accused of supporting Iran's military procurement network and providing satellite imagery that allegedly helped Tehran target U.S. forces. Beijing has denied allegations that Chinese entities assisted Iran's military.
Separate reports have raised questions about possible Chinese support involving military equipment and intelligence. The Wall Street Journal reported that Chinese entities had supplied components used in Iranian drones and missiles, while U.S. intelligence assessments reportedly linked Chinese satellite imagery and geospatial data to Iran's increasingly precise targeting of American military sites.
In July, an attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan killed three U.S. service members and wounded four others. Reports by The Wall Street Journal and CNN said Chinese groups provided high-resolution imagery of the base before and after the strike, potentially helping Iran assess its targets.
The public reporting has not established that China's government or intelligence services directly ordered or coordinated the alleged transfers. Trump dismissed the satellite-imagery allegations in September.
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