Writing on social media, President Trump wrote about his recent meeting with Xi Jinping and the ongoing war with Iran.
Trump stated that he was told by Xi that China would not provide weaponry to Iran.
B-1B Lancer. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
A B-1B Lancer with a Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) flies in the skies above Edwards Air Force Base, California, Nov. 20. The flight was a demonstration of the B-1B’s external weapons carriage capabilities. (Air Force photo by Ethan Wagner)
He also said that Putin assured the United States that Russia would refrain from providing weaponry to Tehran. “Therefore, two major Countries that people speak of often in terms of Iran are, in my opinion, not participating.
If they did, it would be very bad for them—certainly not in their best interests,” Trump concluded in his post.
As Iranian strikes continue against U.S. facilities across the Middle East, there have been concerns that Russia or China may be providing intelligence on base locations and activities to Iran.
Escalating the War in Iran
Over the course of the week, the U.S. and Iran have continued their back-and-forth strikes as the war shows no signs of slowing down.
U.S. forces have struck regions throughout Iran, reportedly focusing on military command and control centers, drone storage sites, communication centers, and maritime capabilities.
On Friday, Iranian officials confirmed another missile barrage that hit multiple locations, killing at least four people and injuring another five.
This morning’s strikes reportedly hit Bandar Abbas, Nain, Khorramabad, Khandab, and an IRGC facility in the Guilan province.
Iran has also continued its attacks on U.S. bases throughout the region. This morning, Kuwait reported that its air defense forces worked to repel an attack launched from Iran.
One drone crashed near the Erbil International Airport in Iraq, apparently on its way towards a military base, prompting all flights in the region to be temporarily suspended.
According to some sources, a few Iranian drones may have managed to impact the base near Erbil.
CENTCOM reported that air defenses intercepted a few drones but did not mention any casualties or damage. So far, Iran has managed to hit several bases across Jordon, Kuwait, Iraq, and Bahrain, though only four casualties have been confirmed so far.
Is Russia Involved in the War?
According to some sources, Iranian missiles/drone have also managed to locate and strike CIA bases in the Gulf region. Reuters reported that in March, the IRGC managed to hit at least two CIA locations, according to an anonymous source with inside information.
The CIA typically maintains facilities inside U.S. embassies along with other safehouses and logistics centers hidden in secure, heavily classified locations.
The fact that Iran was able to locate these sites at all suggests to some analysts that Tehran may be receiving outside help, particularly from Russia.
According to U.S. officials, the Russians provided targeting data to Iran in March, when the war first began. Recently, the topic of Russian interference has resurged as Iranian missiles continue to strike American installations with notable accuracy.
Few other nations possess the means and capabilities to locate such sensitive assets; it also happens that the Russians possess the motive to provide intelligence to Tehran as well.
For the past four years, the U.S. has not been subtle in its efforts to assist Ukraine with intelligence and targeting data to assist Kyiv in its fight against the Russians.
With the outbreak of war with Iran, Moscow has been given a chance to get some payback against the U.S. According to some reports, the Russians have also handed over enhanced Shahed drones with better targeting capabilities to Iran.
Moscow is also reported to have provided other military aid to Tehran, though the Kremlin denies any such transactions.
Moscow has remained silent against accusations of supporting Iran with intelligence. Russia’s Foreign Minister also refused to comment when asked by reporters in Manila.
Looking For an Offramp
Meanwhile, China seems to be trying to end the war in the Middle East as soon as possible. Pakistan has been trying to reopen diplomatic lines of communication between Washington and Tehran following a push by China.
According to some Pakistani officials speaking under the condition of anonymity, “the Chinese are unhappy because Iran’s attacks on other Gulf states and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz are hitting their interests,” they said.
The majority of oil flowing through the strait heads to China. While the CCP has diversified its fuel sources in recent years, the Gulf region is still responsible for a sizable amount of its oil supply.
With a new blockade forming in the Red Sea, Beijing wants to end the war as soon as possible before China starts feeling the economic ripple effects.
The problem is that the war in the Middle East does not show signs of slowing down anytime soon.
Now that the Houthis have gotten involved, President Trump has promised to deliver a “major military punishment” against the militant group in Yemen. Reports seem to indicate that the U.S. is on the verge of a major escalation against Iran.
Officials in Tehran are also expecting a rough weekend as the U.S. appears on the brink of total war.
Analysts and experts alike are worried that the war may be spiraling out of control as the chances of a diplomatic resolution grow fainter by the day.
About the Author: Isaac Seitz
Isaac Seitz, a Defense Columnist, graduated from Patrick Henry College’s Strategic Intelligence and National Security program. He has also studied Russian at Middlebury Language Schools and has worked as an intelligence Analyst in the private sector.