President Trump on Sunday dismissed a report that Chinese entities had supplied Iran with satellite imagery of a US military base in Jordan ahead of a July missile strike that killed three American service members, downplaying the incident while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One.
What The Report Alleges
According to the Wall Street Journal, which cited unnamed American officials, Iranian forces obtained high-resolution satellite images of the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, a facility housing US forces and advanced fighter jets, before launching the missile strike that killed the three soldiers and caused significant damage to military infrastructure. The report did not identify which Chinese entities were involved and did not allege direct involvement by the Chinese government.
Trump's Response
"They basically do what we do," Trump told reporters as he returned from a weekend trip to Ireland, adding, "When they say China spies on us, I say you're right, and we spy on them too." He declined to say directly whether he would raise the issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping, instead describing Xi as having "behaved reasonably well" in the broader US-China relationship.
A Sensitive Moment For US-China Ties
The comments come just weeks ahead of an expected meeting between Trump and Xi in the United States on September 24, a summit China has not yet officially confirmed. The revelation adds another complication to the already strained US-China relationship, which has been further tested by Beijing's status as one of Iran's largest economic and diplomatic partners and a major buyer of Iranian oil throughout the ongoing conflict.
Ongoing Scrutiny Of Chinese Satellite Firms
The US sanctioned three Chinese satellite companies in May for allegedly working with Iranian military entities, and the latest report is likely to intensify scrutiny of commercial satellite imagery providers with ties to China. With the broader US-Iran conflict having claimed 18 American service members since February, according to recent tallies, the Jordan strike remains one of the deadliest single incidents involving US forces since the fighting began.