US President Donald Trump met with top advisers on Friday to consider intensifying military strikes on Iran, according to The New York Times citing four people briefed on the discussions. This development represents a potential escalation from the current conflict that began in February when the U.S. and Israel launched strikes killing senior Iranian officials, including the country's supreme leader. The consideration of expanded military action comes as Trump continues to warn China and Russia about potential involvement in the ongoing Iran conflict.
US President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to China and Russia on Friday regarding potential involvement in the ongoing Iran conflict. According to reports from Reuters and Firstpost, Trump stated that while he does not believe either country is currently participating in the Iran war, any future involvement would carry severe consequences. The warning was delivered through Trump's Truth Social platform, where he emphasized the potential risks of such participation. 'If they did, it would be very bad for them — Certainly not in their best interests,' Trump posted, making clear the potential costs of military support for Iran. As per Reuters, Trump said it would not be in Beijing's or Moscow's best interest to supply weapons to Tehran.
During their recent diplomatic meeting in Beijing, China, Trump reported that President Xi Jinping provided direct assurances about China's stance on Iran. As reported by Reuters and Firstpost, Xi told Trump that China would not, under any circumstances, give or sell weapons to the Islamic Republic of Iran — And that statement included Chinese Companies. This commitment was made during their face-to-face discussions, providing Trump with direct confirmation of China's position on the matter. The assurance specifically extends to Chinese companies operating in the defense sector, with Xi telling Trump that 'he would not, under any circumstances, give or sell Weapons to the Islamic Republic of Iran' as per Trump's Truth Social post.
Similarly, Trump reported receiving assurances from Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding Moscow's stance on Iran. According to Reuters and Firstpost, Putin told Trump that Russia would not sell weapons to Iran, demonstrating what Trump characterized as a shared understanding between the two nations. This commitment aligns with Trump's broader strategy of seeking international cooperation on Iran-related issues. The Kremlin on Thursday declined to comment on reports suggesting Russia may have been assisting Iran with targeting information or drone technology during the conflict.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticized what he called Washington's 'breach of commitments' and 'excessive demands' during a meeting with his Pakistani counterpart, according to the semi-official ISNA news agency. Araghchi met Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organization foreign ministers' meeting in Kyrgyzstan. He thanked Pakistan for its mediation efforts in recent months and condemned US attacks on what he called Iran's critical infrastructure, saying Tehran was determined to defend its sovereignty and national interests. The diplomatic tensions come as the conflict continues to escalate with potential military action under consideration.
