Trump says Russia and China are not helping Iran

President Donald Trump said on October 12 that he did not believe Russia or China was helping Iran in its war with the United States, though he said any assistance would be at a very low level. He argued that both countries had too much to lose and that Washington would quickly detect any support. The statement, posted on Truth Social, contrasts with allegations and official assessments that Moscow and Beijing have provided varying forms of assistance. The extent of any support remains contested, and the available accounts do not establish that either government has directly entered the conflict on Iran’s side. In July, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told senators that Russia and China were enabling some Iranian actions at different levels. He did not publicly describe the scope, saying details should remain classified. The testimony differs from Trump’s latest assessment, although it does not specify the nature or scale of the assistance. Reports have focused on oil revenues, military-related trade and intelligence. A Reuters investigation citing Kpler data said China took more than 80% of Iran’s shipped oil in 2025.