When asserting that China and Russa are not in any wise helping Iran, or if so only at a very low level, because we’d know if they were, and it would be very bad for them, President Donald Trump is contradicting not only “Radical Left Morons” but also U.S. intelligence agencies and his own defense secretary (The Hill, October 13, 2026).
“I see so many comments from the Radical Left Morons and Lunatics that China and Russia are helping the ‘wonderful’ Islamic Republic of Iran,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “If they are, it’s at a very low level, but I don’t believe they are at all.”
He added, “They have too much to lose, and we would know about it, and know about it very fast!”
The president made a similar argument in July, saying at the time that he took the testimony from the leaders of China and Russia that they are not providing Iran with weapons at face value, adding that it “would be very bad for them” if they had….
CNN reported in April that China prepared to deliver new air defense systems to Iran, according to sources familiar with U.S. intelligence assessments. One source told the outlet that Beijing could route the defense shipments through third countries to obscure their source of origin. These defense systems were expected to reach Iran in September, according to Reuters.
In July, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (shown above) was circumlocutory in testimony to senators but acknowledged what was going on.
“Well, Senator…there’s definitely adversary alignment. Attempts to do so. And there are many ways that we deter that…. And the depth and extent of it ought to remain classified…. But there are ways in which both of those countries are at different levels enabling some of the things Iran is doing. Yes.”
Trump is saying the opposite, not “China and Russia sure are helping Iran, but I just can’t tell you how much!” but “not at all!” Unless at a very low level. Maybe the word “low” is doing a lot of work. It’s true that China and Russia have not sent armies to Iran or carpet-bombed DC.
Both countries have provided Iran with satellite imagery that Iran has used to attack U.S. and other installations. Last month, The Wall Street Journal reported that around 1,300 shipments had been made “from China to Iran’s defense ministry this year through the end of June,” according to Iranian customs data. Two days after a certain shipment of electronics components “there were more than a dozen other shipments carrying parts worth more than $6 million that can be used in drones” (September 23, 2026).
Days before the U.S.-Iran war began, Iranian customs data showed a delivery of 300 tons of chemical compounds from China to Iran’s ministry of defense.
Once the war started, trade between Iran and China initially collapsed, according to Iranian customs data and Kpler, a research firm that tracks oil shipments. The U.S. Navy blockade of Iranian ports, announced in April, further tightened the noose.
Tehran responded by expanding air links between China and Iran via Mahan Air, an Iranian airline sanctioned by the U.S. that Treasury says has ferried cash, weapons and personnel for Iran. The airline increased flights from Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou to Tehran to about 27 a week by the end of April from four at the start of March, according to FlightRadar24 data.
Air shipments to Iran’s ministry of defense accelerated, customs data show. Mahan didn’t respond to requests for comment.
Researchers who track trade with Iran say the shipments involve little-known Chinese suppliers working with Iranian importers. Some of the components on offer are known to be used to make Shahed drones, said Kate Koren, deputy director of the economics program at CSIS in Washington. The cheap but deadly Iranian drones have caused significant damage to U.S. bases.
In a soon-to-be-published report, Koren said she found several Chinese companies that had publicly advertised sales this year for sensitive electronics, including those found in the Shahed.
The Journal also reported that the Trump administration “has launched hundreds of sanctions targeting Iran since the war began on Feb. 28, including penalties against companies and individuals in China it believes are helping Tehran.
“Ahead of this week’s summit, Trump told top officials and aides that maintaining good relations with Xi is a priority, people familiar with the discussions said. As a result, senior officials have repeatedly played down the significance of Chinese aid to Iran, avoiding criticism of Beijing that could jeopardize the meeting.”
The meeting the Journal referred to has now happened. But other meetings between Trump and Xi are coming up.
