Trump says does not believe China, Russia helping Iran

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he does not believe that China and Russia are helping Iran, adding that they have "too much to lose."

Trump has faced pressure over reports that Chinese and Russian entities have supplied Iran with intelligence for attacks on US troops.

Responding to comments that China and Russia are helping Iran, Trump said in a post on Truth Social: "If they are, it's at a very low level, but I don't believe they are at all."

"They have too much to lose, and we would know about it, and know about it very fast!" he added.

Trump said in July that he did not believe China and Russia were selling weapons to Iran, warning that "it would be very bad for them" if they did.

The president has frequently taken a more deferential tone toward Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin than he has towards Washington's own allies, saying that they must be respected as the leaders of major world powers.

The US and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28, prompting the Islamic Republic to respond with attacks in the region.

Agence France-Presse