CHINA yesterday called reports that it had supplied or intended to supply weapons to Iran “baseless smears” after several outlets quoted US intelligence sources to that effect.
On Sunday, US President Donald Trump threatened Beijing with a “staggering” new tariff of 50% if it were to provide military assistance to Teheran.
His comments came the same day US outlet CNN reported US intelligence indicated China was preparing to deliver new air defence systems to Iran within the next few weeks, citing three people familiar with the assessments.
Over the weekend, The New York Times quoted US officials as saying that US intelligence suggested Beijing might have already sent a shipment of shoulder-fired missiles.
China denied the reports, saying it had “always adopted a cautious and responsible attitude towards the export of military items, implementing strict controls in accordance with its own export control laws and regulations and its international obligations”.
“We oppose baseless smears or malicious association,” foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a regular news briefing.
China is a key economic partner of Iran – buying most of the Middle Eastern country’s oil.
The countries have no formal military pact, though, and many analysts say Beijing largely sees the relationship between the two as transactional.
China has strong economic ties to the Gulf countries and has criticised Iran’s attacks on them over the course of the conflict. — AFP
