US intelligence says China may send air defense systems to Iran

U.S. intelligence assessments indicate that China is preparing to deliver new air defense systems to Iran in the coming weeks, three people familiar with the matter tell CNN.

The reported move would come shortly after Beijing said it helped broker a fragile ceasefire that paused hostilities between Iran and the United States earlier this week, raising questions about China’s role in the conflict.

Two of the sources said there are indications China may attempt to route the shipments through third countries to conceal their origin.

The systems in question are believed to be shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles, commonly known as MANPADS, which can pose a significant threat to low-flying aircraft. Such weapons were used during the recent five-week conflict and could again become a factor if the ceasefire collapses.

Speaking on Saturday, Donald Trump warned that China would face consequences if it proceeds with the transfer.

“If China does that, China will have big problems,” Trump said as he departed the White House. He did not confirm whether he had raised the issue with Xi Jinping, whom he is expected to meet next month in Beijing.

A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington denied the allegations, saying Beijing “has never provided weapons to any party to the conflict” and describing the claims as untrue.

The spokesperson added that China has sought to promote a ceasefire and de-escalation since the conflict began.

The intelligence findings suggest Iran may be using the current pause in fighting to replenish key military capabilities with support from foreign partners.

Shipping such systems would mark a notable escalation in China’s support for Iran, particularly following the joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign launched earlier this year. While Chinese companies have been accused of supplying dual-use technologies to Iran, a direct transfer of weapons by the Chinese government would represent a more overt form of assistance.

Iran maintains longstanding military and economic ties with both China and Russia, including energy trade and defense cooperation.

U.S. officials have also raised concerns about Russia’s support for Iran during the conflict, including intelligence-sharing that may have helped Tehran target American assets in the region.

Despite the intelligence reports, one source familiar with the assessments said China is unlikely to intervene directly in the conflict, instead seeking to balance its strategic ties with Iran while maintaining plausible deniability on the global stage.

The White House said earlier this week that high-level contacts between U.S. and Chinese officials took place during ceasefire negotiations, underscoring the broader geopolitical stakes surrounding the conflict.