President Trump said Chinese leader Xi Jinping personally assured him Beijing would not provide military equipment to Iran as Washington seeks broader international pressure on Tehran.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
President Donald Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping told him directly that Beijing would not send military equipment to Iran, a statement that emerged as the White House intensifies efforts to isolate Tehran during the ongoing Middle East conflict.
According to reporting from Reuters, Trump made the remarks during a taped interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, describing the conversation with Xi as a direct assurance tied to growing American concerns over Iran’s military operations and regional activity.
“He said he’s not gonna give military equipment,” Trump said of Xi during the interview excerpts cited by Reuters and other media outlets.
The comments come as the administration seeks broader international cooperation to contain Iran and reduce the risk of wider regional escalation following months of conflict involving U.S., Israeli, and Iranian forces.
Trump has also pushed NATO allies to take a larger role in supporting pressure campaigns against Tehran, though he has publicly criticized several European governments for avoiding deeper military involvement.
Earlier remarks reported by Reuters and Time showed Trump expressing frustration with allied hesitation, describing the reluctance as a “very foolish mistake” and arguing that European partners continue benefiting from American-led security operations without contributing substantially to efforts involving Iran.
According to reporting from The Washington Post, several European governments remain cautious about deeper involvement because of concerns surrounding escalation risks, domestic political opposition, and instability in global energy markets.
The growing divide with some traditional allies has coincided with Washington’s effort to encourage China to use its economic influence with Tehran, even as Beijing maintains extensive trade ties with Iran and remains one of the country’s largest purchasers of crude oil.
Analysts cited by outlets including Al Jazeera and Chatham House have argued that any Chinese cooperation involving Iran would likely become part of wider strategic negotiations between Washington and Beijing involving trade disputes, military tensions, and Taiwan policy.
Some foreign policy specialists have warned that efforts to secure Chinese assistance on Iran-related issues could complicate U.S. positions elsewhere, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, where Beijing strongly opposes expanded American military cooperation and weapons sales involving Taiwan.
China has not publicly confirmed Trump’s description of Xi’s comments, and official Chinese government summaries of recent discussions between the two leaders have not included any public commitment regarding military exports or defense cooperation involving Iran.
The issue remains highly sensitive as the administration attempts to balance pressure on Tehran while also managing broader geopolitical competition with Beijing across military, economic, and diplomatic fronts.
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