US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has admitted that Russia and China are “enabling some of the things Iran is doing,” though he declined to provide further details, saying they “ought to remain classified.”
The comments come amid ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran, which began with joint American-Israeli strikes on Iranian sites in February. Iran retaliated by targeting regional sites and closing the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil trade.
President Donald Trump also issued a stark warning to Moscow and Beijing, stating on Truth Social that if they supplied weapons to Iran, “it would be very bad for them.” He claimed that both Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin had assured him they would not sell arms to Tehran.
Despite a Memorandum of Understanding signed last month aimed at ending hostilities within 60 days, attacks have resumed. Hegseth’s remarks mark the first official US acknowledgment of foreign support for Iran’s military activities.
The situation remains tense as diplomatic efforts continue to falter.
