Speaking to reporters in Paris, President Trump addressed the military balance in the Middle East. He expressed that preventing Tehran from maintaining a ballistic missile program would be unequal given the capabilities of its neighbours. “I’m saying that if other countries have them, it’s a little bit unfair for them not to have some,” Trump stated. He specified that if nations like Saudi Arabia and Qatar hold such arsenals, it is acceptable for Iran to possess them “in relative proportion.” Additionally, Trump confirmed the United States will leave its military in the Gulf “for a while” following a deal with Tehran to end the conflict.
Praise For Beijing And Moscow’s Neutrality
At a Group of Seven conference in Evian-les-Bains, France, Trump extended gratitude toward Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. He characterized both leaders as “neutral” during the war, noting they did not thwart U.S. efforts to curb Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. “I just want to thank them because they made it a lot better,” Trump remarked.
Trump lauded President Xi specifically for avoiding sending in “big weaponry” or shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles, adding that Xi helped get the conflict solved.
Contrast With Allies And Geopolitical Ties
Trump’s praise stood in contrast to his criticism of U.S. allies from Europe to Japan, whom he rebuked for not assisting with military operations or efforts to clear the Iran-blocked Strait of Hormuz. Despite Trump’s remarks, Moscow and Beijing maintain close ties with Tehran. Russia previously warned the war could lead to a nuclear arms race, while Beijing condemned U.S. attacks as a violation of sovereignty.
U.S. intelligence assesses that Beijing supplied Tehran with potential military-use goods, and China’s independent oil refiners remained Iran’s main customers defying
U.S. sanctions. In a statement, China’s embassy in Washington said they have been working tirelessly for peace, while Russia’s embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
(with input from Reuters)
