CHINA DENIES SHARING INTELLIGENCE WITH IRAN BEFORE STRIKE THAT KILLED US TROOPS
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AGENCY REPORT
Beijing on Monday dismissed as “groundless” reports that Chinese entities provided Iran with satellite images of a Jordanian military base housing US troops before and after an Iranian missile strike that killed three American soldiers.
The Wall Street Journal reported over the weekend that satellite imagery was allegedly supplied to Tehran in connection with Iran’s July 17 missile attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan.
The report, citing unnamed US officials, did not identify the Chinese entities allegedly involved and did not accuse the Chinese government of directly providing the intelligence.
“We firmly oppose groundless suspicion and accusations without evidence,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular press briefing on Monday.
US President Donald Trump also sought to play down the report, which comes ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s planned visit to the White House on September 24.
“When they say that China spies on us, I say you’re right, and we spy on them too,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday.
“That’s what we do. They basically do what we do,” he added.
The Journal reported that Chinese officials demanded evidence of the alleged transfer of satellite imagery when questioned by US officials and declined to confirm that Chinese companies had supplied the images to Iran.
Trump has previously warned Beijing against supplying weapons to Iran. In May, Washington imposed sanctions on three China-based satellite companies over allegations that they supported Iran’s military operations.
China remains one of Iran’s major economic partners, purchasing a significant portion of its oil exports and providing diplomatic support to Tehran.
Despite the tensions, Trump said Sunday that Xi had “behaved reasonably well” and that the US had also acted reasonably towards China.
Asked whether he would permit Chinese-made cars to be sold in the United States, Trump said he had kept them out, attributing the restriction to tariffs.
AFP
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