Trump Downplays Report China Provided Iran Satellite Images Before Deadly US Base Strike
Trump dismisses concerns over reported Chinese intelligence support to Iran.
US President Donald Trump on Sunday downplayed a report that Chinese entities supplied Iran with satellite imagery linked to a military base in Jordan before and after an Iranian missile strike that killed three US soldiers. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said intelligence gathering was something both countries carried out, arguing that China’s alleged activities were comparable to those of the United States.
The report by The Wall Street Journal said Chinese entities had provided Tehran with satellite images of the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, which hosts US forces. Iran launched missile strikes on the base on July 17, killing three US Army soldiers. However, unnamed US officials cited in the report did not identify the Chinese entities involved and did not suggest that the Chinese government was directly responsible for the alleged transfer.
According to the report, Chinese officials asked US officials to provide evidence of the transfer of satellite imagery when questioned about the matter. They also declined to acknowledge that Chinese companies had been involved in supplying Tehran with satellite images. The allegations come at a sensitive time in US-China relations, with Chinese President Xi Jinping scheduled to make a state visit to the White House on September 24.
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Trump has previously warned Beijing against selling weapons to Iran, while Washington imposed sanctions in May on three China-based satellite companies over allegations that they enabled Iranian military operations. The latest report could add another point of friction between Washington and Beijing as both sides manage broader economic, security and diplomatic differences.
Despite the reported intelligence-sharing concerns, Trump struck a relatively measured tone when discussing Xi. Asked about the Chinese president, he said Xi had behaved “reasonably well” and that the United States also dealt with China reasonably. Trump was also asked whether Chinese-made cars could eventually be sold in the US market, to which he said tariffs had kept them out. China remains a major economic partner of Iran, purchasing a substantial share of its oil and providing diplomatic support to Tehran.
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