China-linked entities gave Iran satellite pics before deadly Jordan US base strike

US officials say Chinese entities supplied Iran with satellite imagery of a US base in Jordan before and after Tehran's July 17 missile strike that killed three American troops. President Donald Trump later downplayed the report, saying that China also spied on the US like it does.

In Short

• Chinese entities gave Iran satellite pics of Jordan US base before and after strike
• Iran launched missile strike on Jordan's Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, killing 3 US troops
• Trump played down report on China aiding Iran with satellite imagery

US President Donald Trump on Sunday brushed aside a report that China-linked entities supplied Iran with satellite imagery of a US Air Force base in Jordan before Tehran's July attack that killed three American troops. He asserted that China conducted the same surveillance activities as the US.

Asked whether he would raise the issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping at their expected September 24 meeting, Trump did not directly answer. “They basically do what we do. When they say China spies on us, I say you're right and we spy on them too,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One.

WHAT DID WALL STREET JOURNAL REPORT?

Trump's comments came after The Wall Street Journal reported that Chinese entities supplied Iran with high-quality satellite imagery of Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan before and after Tehran's July 17 ballistic missile attack that killed three US troops.

The newspaper, citing US officials familiar with the matter, reported that Washington had linked the imagery to the strike and considered it the clearest evidence yet that Chinese support for Iran during the conflict contributed to the deaths of US troops. The officials, however, stopped short of accusing Beijing of directly participating in the attack.

Senior US officials raised the issue with their Chinese counterparts, but Beijing rejected the allegation and asked Washington to provide evidence, according to sources cited by the Journal.

A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington told the newspaper that cooperation between Beijing and Tehran was consistent with international law and accused unnamed critics of “maliciously linking and smearing other countries”.

The spokesperson did not directly respond to the allegation that Chinese entities provided satellite imagery linked to the July 17 strike, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Beijing has repeatedly denied that Chinese companies supplied Iran with satellite imagery to help target US forces, according to officials cited by the newspaper.

Trump's comments appeared consistent with the administration's recent efforts to play down tensions with Beijing, despite US concerns over China's close ties with Tehran.

Trump also reiterated that he has a good relationship with Xi. “I think he's behaved reasonably well, and we behave reasonably well,” Trump said as he flew back to the United States after a weekend trip to Ireland.

Trump and Xi are expected to meet in the US on September 24, although Beijing has not officially confirmed the meeting.

3 TROOPS KILLED IN IRAN STRIKE ON US BASE IN JORDAN

The July 17 Iranian ballistic missile strike on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base killed three US service members and wounded four others.

The three killed were First Lt Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii; Pvt Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas; and Sgt Angel S Rampersad, 28, of Ozone Park, New York.

The July 17 attack was one of three missile strikes on the base within 24 hours. Iranian ballistic missiles struck a housing area where US troops were sleeping, while Iran also targeted manned and unmanned aircraft at the base, according to US officials cited by the Journal.

They were the first US military fatalities in the Iran war since a 60-day ceasefire agreed in April, and their deaths marked a major escalation in the West Asia conflict. The strike came after Washington and Tehran suspended an interim ceasefire agreement in June.

US FLAGGED CONCERNS OVER CHINESE SATELLITE SUPPORT

Evidence of Iran's use of Chinese technology had emerged months before the deadly attack. The Financial Times reported in April that Iran was using a Chinese-built and launched spy satellite purchased by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Aerospace Force from Earth Eye Co. in late 2024.

The Trump administration had also raised concerns over Chinese satellite support to Iran before the July attack.

In May, Washington sanctioned three China-based satellite companies, accusing them of providing imagery that could enable Iran's military operations and threaten US and partner personnel. The sanctions came amid US warnings that Chinese companies were helping Tehran obtain satellite imagery that could be used to target American forces, claims denied by Beijing.

Iran again targeted Muwaffaq Salti Air Base on September 10, with the latest strike reportedly damaging several US aircraft. Trump, however, denied that any US planes were damaged.

- Ends
(with inputs from Reuters)