American officials have established a link between high-resolution satellite imagery provided to Iran by Chinese entities and the deadly missile attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan on July 17, according to an investigation published by the Wall Street Journal and cited by Reuters. The Iranian ballistic missile strike killed three US military personnel and wounded four others.
The intelligence reportedly included images of the base both before and after the attack. US officials have not identified the specific Chinese entities involved and have not stated that the government in Beijing was directly involved. Reuters said it could not independently verify the Wall Street Journal's findings.
When asked whether he would raise the issue with Xi Jinping at their next meeting, President Donald Trump did not answer directly. Instead, he compared China's surveillance activities to those conducted by the United States. «They basically do what we do,» Trump said, referring to espionage allegations between the two countries. Trump also insisted that his relationship with Xi is good and that both sides have behaved «reasonably.»
The president's response contrasts with the gravity of the allegation: information provided by Chinese entities is being analyzed by US authorities in connection with an Iranian attack that killed American service members. The accusation does not mean Washington claims Beijing ordered or coordinated the strike. According to the information cited by the Wall Street Journal, US officials linked the satellite images to the attack but did not accuse the Chinese government of direct involvement.
Beijing has previously rejected allegations of supporting Iran and has demanded evidence. In May, the United States sanctioned three Chinese companies that the Trump administration said had supplied Iran with satellite imagery usable for military operations. The new information is particularly sensitive because Washington is also concerned that data provided by Chinese companies could help Iran identify and track US military targets in the region.
Trump's reaction comes ahead of a planned meeting with Xi Jinping in the United States, which Reuters reports is expected on September 24. Beijing has not officially confirmed that the summit will take place. For the American administration, the situation creates a delicate diplomatic problem: Washington has reason to be concerned about technological and informational support given to Iran, but Trump appears to avoid turning the accusation into a new open conflict with Beijing before the meeting with Xi.