China on Monday flatly denied reports that it supplied or is planning to supply weapons to Iran, as President Donald Trump warned Beijing it would face "severe consequences" if the reports proved true.
"If China does that, China is going to have big problems," Trump told reporters on Saturday.
He had earlier announced that any country supplying military weapons to Iran would face immediate 50 percent tariffs with no exemptions.
Rejecting the allegations in full, Chinese Embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu said, "China has never provided weapons to any party in the conflict; the information in question is untrue."
Earlier, citing three sources familiar with US intelligence assessments, CNN reported that China is preparing to deliver MANPADs, shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missile systems, to Iran within weeks, routed through third countries to conceal their origin.
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The reports emerged days after a two-week ceasefire paused a conflict that began on February 28, when the US and Israel launched military action against Iran. As per reports,the war killed nearly 3,000 Iranians by Tehran's count, left at least 13 US service members dead, and disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Reports say that, China has previously supplied Iran with dual-use components used in missiles and drones, but a direct government-to-government weapons transfer would mark a significant escalation.
Moreover, Beijing framed its position in broader terms, presenting itself as a stabilising force in an already volatile region. "As a responsible major country, China consistently fulfils its international obligations," the statement read. It called on "relevant parties" to do more to de-escalate tensions rather than inflame them.
The denial comes at a time of intense pressure on Iran, which is engaged in nuclear negotiations with the United States while simultaneously facing a sustained military campaign by Israel. Chinese arms reaching Tehran would significantly alter the regional balance and draw sharp condemnation from Washington and its allies.
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Meanwhile, China and Iran have deepened ties in recent years, including a 25-year cooperation agreement signed in 2021 and regular joint naval exercises. That relationship has drawn sustained scrutiny from Western governments, who have accused Beijing of giving Iran diplomatic cover at the United Nations and of enabling trade that helps Tehran withstand sanctions.
Washington has not publicly responded to China's denial. No independent verification of the weapons shipment reports has been made available so far.
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