President Donald Trump on Wednesday, 17 June publicly thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin for remaining neutral during the recent US-Iran conflict, saying both leaders could have made the situation significantly more difficult for Washington. The remarks came at a press conference following the G7 summit in Évian, France.

Trump's Direct Appeal to Xi

Trump said he personally urged Xi not to supply military equipment to Tehran during the conflict, and expressed appreciation for Beijing's response. 'I want to thank China, President Xi,' Trump said. 'I was with him, and he stayed neutral, totally neutral, and I appreciate it.'

He described a direct conversation in which he asked Beijing to withhold military assistance. 'I said, I would really appreciate your not giving or selling any of that stuff to Iran,' Trump said, adding that Beijing largely complied: 'For the most part, he didn't.'

Putin Credited for Non-Interference

Trump also singled out Russia's president. 'And I want to thank Vladimir Putin; he was very neutral,' he said. 'They could have made it much more difficult for us.' The acknowledgement is notable given that both China and Russia maintain longstanding political and economic ties with Iran, and their restraint was not a foregone conclusion during a major international crisis.

Iran's Damage and the Terms Ahead

Trump defended the agreement reached with Iran, arguing the military campaign achieved its objectives without triggering a wider regional conflict. He claimed Iran had suffered extensive damage and would need years to recover. 'They've had much more than $1 trillion worth of damage done,' he said. 'They'll be 15 to 20 years to rebuild what they have right now.'

He also warned that future economic relief for Tehran would be conditional. 'They have to behave themselves,' Trump said. 'If they're not behaving, they get hit again.'

Frozen Assets and Dollar Credibility

Trump defended provisions in the agreement allowing the eventual release of frozen Iranian assets, framing it as a matter of financial credibility rather than concession. 'We have their money. It's not our money, it's their money,' he said. He argued that permanently retaining foreign assets would erode international confidence in the US dollar and the broader financial system.

Strait of Hormuz and the Limits of Military Action

The President rejected criticism that the deal amounted to a concession, insisting Iran entered negotiations from a position of weakness following military losses and sustained economic pressure. He also pointed to the risks of continued military operations for global energy markets. 'If we keep bombing, those ships won't be going,' Trump said, referring to commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The remarks underscored how the threat of energy supply disruption shaped Washington's calculus in ending the campaign. All eyes now turn to whether Tehran's compliance with the agreement holds — and whether Beijing and Moscow maintain their studied neutrality.