‘Too much to lose’: Trump believes China, Iran not helping Iran amid conflict with US

After months of speculating that China and Russia are helping Iran amid the conflict with the United States, President Donald Trump now has reason to “believe” the two nations are not helping Tehran.

In a Truth Social post on Monday, the US President stated that Russia and China have “too much to lose” if they are helping Iran.

Trump added that even if Beijing and Moscow were helping Iran in some form, it would be “at a very low level.”

“They have too much to lose, and we would know about it, and know about it very fast!” Trump wrote.

The US President’s remarks come after he said he “trusted” China and Russia not to help Tehran during the ongoing war

“President Xi, at our recent meeting in Beijing, China, told me that he would not, under any circumstances, give ​or sell Weapons to the Islamic Republic of Iran — And that ​statement included Chinese Companies,” Trump wrote on Truth Social in July, adding that Russian President Putin ⁠had also told him that he would not sell weapons to Iran.

Since the breakout of the US-Israel war on Iran, Washington has speculated the involvement of China and Russia in “enabling Tehran.” US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth had also stated in July that Moscow and Beijing were involved “at different levels.”

During Xi’s visit to the US in September, Trump stated that any Chinese support for Iran would be deemed “totally unacceptable.”

During Xi’s visit to the US in September, Trump stated that any Chinese support for Iran would be deemed “totally unacceptable.”

“We made it very clear to them weeks ago that, you know, any help that they would give Iran, whether it be direct or indirect, whether it be intelligence or parts or military equipment, was totally unacceptable. President Trump made that very clear again yesterday. This is an ongoing drumbeat,” US Ambassador to China David Perdue told CNBC.

In March 2026, the Wall Street Journal reported that Russia had expanded its intelligence sharing with Iran by providing drone technology and satellite imagery.

Citing US intelligence sources close to the matter, WSJ further alleged that this move from Russia would help prolong the war in the region, which in turn would benefit Moscow’s military and economy.

However, the Kremlin junked this report as “fake news.”

“As you know, there are currently a great many different reports circulating about this war. The vast majority are nothing more than disinformation, so we do not consider it necessary to comment on each and every one of them,” spokesperson Peskov told reporters during a press conference in March.

…Read MoreDanita Yadav is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times. Based in New Delhi, Danita serves as a pivotal voice in international reportage in the team. Operating under the mandate of delivering "without the noise", Danita excels at distilling complex geopolitical developments into lucid, objective narratives which prioritise factual accuracy over sensationalism. In HT, Danita has been recognised for her breaking news efforts and time-bound coverage of the Air India crash, which has driven over 2 million users to the website through trusted, factual coverage of the incident. Thriving in high-pressure editorial environments, Danita has also cultivated a reputation for navigating the nuances of global diplomacy and cross-border policy. With over four years of experience in the journalism industry, Danita has spent her years diving deep into the coverage of international relations and global conflicts. She has previously worked with the news teams at Outlook India and Times Network, covering a wide range of beats and topics, from education curricula and student protests to Indian politics and international conflicts such as the Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan wars. Danita earned her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from Kamala Nehru College, University of Delhi. Beyond the newsroom and her love for international relations, you'll find Danita 'geeking' out over books, music and BTS. Her appreciation for global pop culture and storytelling also added to her unique perspective on the "soft power" dynamics that increasingly have shaped international relations in the ever-changing global order. Read Less