Khaberni - U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened China with "major problems" if it sends weapons to Iran, amid intelligence reports claiming that Beijing is preparing to deliver new air defense systems to Tehran in the coming weeks.
Trump stated to reporters on Saturday, before leaving the White House for Miami, that "China will face major problems if it exports weapons to Iran," without revealing details of those threats.
This comes while talks between the American and Iranian sides, mediated by Pakistan in Islamabad, continue to discuss an agreement to stop the war that started on February 28th last year, plunging the Middle East into a spiral of violence.
American channel "CNN" reported, citing three informed sources, that US intelligence information showed that China is preparing to deliver new air defense systems to Iran in the coming weeks.
It mentioned there are "indications" that "Beijing is working on sending shipments through third countries to conceal their origin", explaining that "Beijing is preparing to transfer shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missile systems known as MANPADs".
Secret stance
The New York Times, citing undisclosed sources, reported that the US Central Intelligence Agency has obtained information suggesting that China "may have sent a shipment of shoulder-launched missiles to Iran in recent weeks".
The American newspaper noted that "China is taking an active secret stance in the war, allowing some companies to ship chemicals, fuel, and components that can be used in Iran's military production for wartime purposes".
Days ago, a New York Times report highlighted the possible roles of both China and Russia during the American-Israeli war on Iran, based on assessments and data from intelligence agencies in Washington.
It cited U.S. officials saying that intelligence agencies have obtained information indicating that China may have sent a shipment of shoulder-launched missiles to Iran during the last weeks of the war.
However, they also reported that this data "is still unconfirmed", with no evidence available that these missiles were used against American or Israeli forces.
Chinese denial
In contrast, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry denied that his country provided any military support to any side in the conflict, describing the circulating information as "incorrect", according to what the New York Times reported.
The spokesperson also called on the American side to stop making accusations he said are "not based on any factual basis".
Since February 28th last year, over the course of 39 days, Israel and the United States launched attacks on Iran, resulting in the deaths of hundreds including the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei along with military and security officials, while Tehran responded by launching missiles and drones towards Israel and American sites in the region, but some of them killed and injured civilians and damaged civilian sites, which was condemned by the targeted countries.
