Washington: US President Donald Trump On Sunday issued a stalk warning to China against supplying arms to Iran, predicting “big problems” should Beijing proceed, in response to a CNN report drawing from three sources close to recent US intelligence findings.
“If China does that, China is gonna have big problems,” he told reporters when questioned about intelligence suggesting China is gearing up to send weapons to Iran. He offered no further details. as reported by The Economic Times.
According to the CNN report late on
Friday, a US intelligence assessment reveals China preparing to supply Iran with advanced air defense systems in the coming weeks, with sources noting efforts to channel the deliveries through intermediary nations to conceal their source, as reported by The Economic Times.
The shipments reportedly include man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADs) — shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles deployed in ongoing conflicts and capable of endangering low-altitude US military planes — according to CNN’s unnamed sources.
In response, a spokesperson from the Chinese Embassy in Washington dismissed the claims outright, declaring that China “has never provided weapons to any party to the conflict” and deeming the information untrue.
The spokesperson further called on the US to refrain from “baseless allegations” and “sensationalism,” while emphasizing China’s ongoing support for initiatives to reduce tensions.