WASHINGTON/TEHRAN (MNN); US President Donald Trump has said that neither China nor Russia is currently involved in the ongoing conflict with Iran, warning that any direct involvement by either country would have serious consequences.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping had assured him during their recent meeting in Beijing that China would neither supply nor sell weapons to Iran under any circumstances, including through Chinese companies. He added that it was not in the strategic interests of either China or Russia to provide military support to Tehran.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Friday, Trump also confirmed that the United States and Iran were engaged in talks aimed at ending the conflict. He said discussions were progressing more seriously than before but cautioned that no agreement had yet been reached.
“We are talking to them. They appear more serious than at any previous stage, but that does not mean a deal is certain,” Trump said.
Meanwhile, Trump warned that the United States would use Iranian state assets frozen under US control to compensate for any damage caused to commercial ships and cargoes during the conflict.
Responding to the statement, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticised the proposal, saying confiscating another country’s frozen assets to settle future claims would establish a dangerous international precedent. In a post on X, he described such a move as “an incendiary precedent” under international law.
Separately, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he will travel to Washington on Monday and meet President Trump at the White House on Tuesday.
The visit comes amid reported differences between the two leaders over the handling of the Iran conflict. During his visit, Netanyahu is also expected to attend the funeral service of US Senator Lindsey Graham, described by his office as a close friend of Israel.
