Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley urged President Donald Trump to take a tougher stance against Russia and China for their military support to Iran, suggesting he threaten them with force if they do not stop aiding Tehran [1, 2]. Haley said Russia and China have supplied Iran with military assets such as drones and satellite imagery, enabling Iran to sustain its military capabilities [1, 2].

Haley called on Trump to directly contact Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, warning them they will be held accountable. "He needs to let them know that they will be held accountable, and he will put force on them if they continue to help Iran in this war. And they need to know he's serious, and he has to be prepared to follow through with it," Haley said [1]. She added, "When we go after China and Russia, and hold them accountable, and tell them to stop, that's when we'll start to really see Iran get weakened" [1].

Her comments came days after U.S. forces launched strikes against Iran on August 26 following Iran’s downing of a U.S. helicopter [1, 2]. Trump has vowed to hit Iran hard again in response to Tehran's actions [1, 2].

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian responded publicly on August 30 via social media, declaring "Iran will stand firm against any pressure" from the U.S. or its allies [1, 2]. Haley argued that Iran is unlikely to negotiate in good faith, accusing Tehran of stalling talks to buy time and strategize. "The reality is, Iran never had any intention of negotiating. They've done this so many times. They stall. They make you think they are going to do something," she said [1].

Haley also called for a swift end to the war, stating that the U.S. and Israel have so far weakened Iran effectively but must "finish the job" [2]. She warned Iran is prepared to endure significant hardship to maintain control over the Strait of Hormuz and preserve its nuclear weapons development capabilities [1, 2].

The situation remains tense following the August 26 strikes, with Haley’s statements on August 30 emphasizing a more confrontational approach toward Russia and China to cut off Iranian military aid [1].