Trump Says He Would Be 'Disappointed' If China Arms Iran: 'Xi Jinping Told Me He Won't'

Published 30 July 2026 · india

Trump Says He Would Be 'Disappointed' If China Arms Iran: 'Xi Jinping Told Me He Won't' Published By, Last Updated: July 30, 2026, 07:20 IST

Trump Says He Would Be 'Disappointed' If China Arms Iran: 'Xi Jinping Told Me He Won't' Published By, Last Updated: July 30, 2026, 07:20 IST Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping had personally assured him that Beijing would not arm Iran. US President Donald Trump (left) and Chinese President Xi Jinping. (File) US President Donald Trump said he would be “quite disappointed" if China supplied weapons to Iran, responding to reports that Tehran could soon receive hundreds of Chinese-made shoulder-fired missiles. Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping had personally assured him that Beijing would not arm Iran. The remarks come as reports claimed that Iran is expected to receive a shipment of up to 400 Chinese-manufactured shoulder-fired missiles within weeks. “Well, that would be surprising. He (Xi) told me very strongly he wouldn’t partake, and he knows I’d be quite disappointed," Trump said.

Intelligence assessments, first reported by CNN, suggested China was preparing to deliver new air defence systems to Iran as Tehran seeks to rebuild parts of its military capabilities with help from foreign partners. Last week, Trump had warned both China and Russia against supplying weapons to Iran, while saying he believed assurances from Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin that neither country was currently providing military assistance to Tehran. On his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote that, in his view, both nations were refraining from arms transfers to Iran. “Therefore, two major Countries that people speak of often in terms of Iran are, in my opinion, not participating," he wrote, adding, “If they did, it would be very bad for them- Certainly not in their best interests." The comments come as Washington continues to examine whether Russian and Chinese intelligence networks have been assisting Tehran by providing targeting information following recent strikes on US military installations.

Trump also recalled his summit with Xi Jinping in Beijing in May, saying the Chinese leader gave him an “explicit commitment" that China would not arm Iran. “Considering our relationship, I take him at his word," Trump said. He added that Putin had conveyed a similar assurance, saying the Russian leader understood the US position on arms transfers. Trump also reiterated that while the US sells weapons to NATO countries, it does not directly sell them to Ukraine. “I will tell you that President Xi said he will not partake, and President Putin said the same thing. I think you know I trust them," Trump said, asserting, “I don’t think they’d want to have me disappointed." News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location: Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: July 30, 2026, 07:20 IST News world Trump Says He Would Be 'Disappointed' If China Arms Iran: 'Xi Jinping Told Me He Won't' Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s.