US intelligence indicates that China is preparing to deliver new air defense systems to Iran within the next few weeks, according to three people familiar with the latest intelligence assessments.
It would be a provocative move given that Beijing said it helped broker the fragile ceasefire deal that stopped the war between Iran and the US earlier this week. President Donald Trump is also due to visit China early next month for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, CNN reports.
The intelligence also highlights how Iran could use the ceasefire as an opportunity to resupply certain weapons systems with the help of key foreign partners.
Two of the sources told CNN that there are indications that Beijing is working to route shipments through third countries to mask their true origins.
"The systems Beijing is preparing to transfer are mobile anti-aircraft systems, known as MANPADS (surface-to-air missiles launched from the shoulder). According to the sources, they posed an asymmetric threat to low-flying US military aircraft during the five weeks of the war and could do so again if the ceasefire fails."
A spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Washington said: "China has never provided weapons to any party in the conflict; the information in question is untrue."
"As a responsible major country, China consistently fulfills its international obligations. We call on the US side to refrain from making groundless accusations, creating malicious connections, and engaging in sensationalism; we hope that relevant parties will do more to help ease tensions."
*Photo in the news is illustrative.
t7 live
