US President Donald Trump on Wednesday publicly thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin for maintaining neutrality during Washington’s recent military confrontation with Iran, crediting both leaders with avoiding moves that could have escalated the conflict or undermined subsequent peace efforts.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, after a ceasefire agreement was reached, Trump said both Beijing and Moscow had refrained from actions that could have complicated America’s military objectives.
“I want to thank President Xi. He stayed neutral, completely neutral, and I appreciate that,” Trump said. “And I want to thank Vladimir Putin. He was very neutral as well. They could have made things much more difficult for us.”
Trump reserved special praise for Xi, suggesting that China had consciously avoided providing direct military assistance to Tehran despite its close ties with the Iranian regime. According to Trump, Beijing could have chosen to bolster Iran’s position during the conflict, but instead exercised restraint.
“They could have escorted oil shipments with warships or supplied weapons systems, but they didn’t,” Trump said. “President Xi tried to help. I think he played a role in getting this resolved.”
The remarks marked a notable shift from Trump’s recent criticism of several US allies. Over the course of the conflict, he repeatedly accused European nations and Japan of failing to contribute adequately to military operations and efforts to secure vital maritime routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, after Iran temporarily disrupted traffic through the strategic waterway.
Both China and Russia maintain strong diplomatic and economic ties with Tehran. While Beijing condemned US strikes on Iran as a violation of its sovereignty, American intelligence assessments indicated that Chinese entities supplied Iran with dual-use goods that could support military activities during the conflict. China also remained the largest buyer of Iranian oil despite US sanctions.
Russia, meanwhile, warned that the war risked destabilising the Middle East and could spark a broader nuclear arms race in the region.
Responding to Trump’s comments, China’s embassy in Washington reiterated that Beijing had consistently worked towards de-escalation and peace. Russia’s embassy did not immediately comment on the US President’s remarks.
