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US President Donald Trump said he does not believe allegations that Russia is providing intelligence data to Tehran, but he will ask Russian President Vladimir Putin about the claims. Speaking to reporters, Trump said: "We'll find out about this. I'll ask Putin about it. We'll find out."

"I don't think they've been doing it. Certainly not at a high level. And if they have, it has been very unimpactful," the US leader added, according to TASS.

Coverage comparison

All reporting on this story comes from TASS, the Russian state news agency. The coverage highlights Trump's statements at different times, with some reports focusing on his intention to raise the matter with Putin, while others emphasize his trust in the assurances of Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

In an earlier statement, Trump wrote on Truth Social that he is confident China and Russia do not provide military support to Iran. "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," he said.

Key claims

According to TASS, Trump said he trusts Putin and Xi when they say Russia and China are not supplying weapons to Iran. "I will tell you that President Xi said he will not partake, and President Putin said the same thing. ... I trust them," Trump told reporters at the White House.

The president also said Xi assured him that China would not agree to the transfer or sale of weapons to Iran "under any circumstances. And that statement included Chinese companies," Trump said.

Regarding Putin, Trump said the Russian president told him he would not sell weapons to Iran. "He understands that I do not sell weapons to Ukraine, but to NATO countries. They pay full price, and how those weapons are distributed, I have no idea," Trump said, according to TASS.

Trump also commented on his relationship with the Chinese leader, saying: "Besides, I am doing him very big favors."

When asked about Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth's recent remarks that Russia and China were enabling Iran, Trump replied: "Do they? They've had a long-term relationship. There could be some things you do, but thus far, at least, it has not been major. I don't think they'd want to have me disappointed."

The US president also expressed a dismissive view of Iran's military capabilities, saying: "They have no army, ... no air force, ... no navy, they have nothing."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, after taking part in ASEAN events in the Philippines, said Moscow wants the conflict in the Strait of Hormuz to end and is not supplying weapons to Tehran. "For no apparent reason, the West, and Washington in particular, are now stoking a narrative that Russia and China are directly supplying Iran with the weapons to attack US targets. Well, you know, it is embarrassing to even hear that," Lavrov said.

In a separate statement, Lavrov said it makes him "awkward to hear" rumors about Russia supplying weapons to Iran.