US intelligence assessments indicate that China is preparing to deliver new air defense systems to Iran within the next few weeks, according to CNN.The development comes as China publicly said it helped support efforts to broker a fragile ceasefire that brought the recent US-Iranian conflict to a halt.It also comes ahead of expected high-level talks, with US President Donald Trump scheduled to visit China next month for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.Intelligence findings suggest that Iran may be using the ceasefire period to rebuild parts of its air defense network with the help of key partners, despite ongoing international scrutiny.
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China intervenes to push a ceasefire with Iran, changing the signals in the balance of diplomatic power
According to sources cited by CNN, there are indications that China is trying to route shipments through third countries to hide their origin. The systems under discussion are shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles, known as man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), which could pose a serious threat to low-flying military aircraft.These systems have already played an important role during the five-week conflict, as these weapons have created risks for US aircraft operating in the region. Officials said they could pose a threat again if the ceasefire collapses.A spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Washington rejected these allegations, saying that China had not supplied weapons to any party in the conflict.
He added: “China has never provided weapons to any party in the conflict; the information in question is incorrect.”The spokesman added that China, as a “responsible major country,” is committed to international obligations, and urged the United States to avoid baseless allegations.The embassy had previously stated that China was working to support efforts to end the conflict and strengthen the ceasefire.The intelligence also comes amid broader geopolitical tensions related to Iran’s military capabilities. During the conflict, Trump said an F-15 fighter jet was shot down by a shoulder-launched missile.Iran separately claimed that it used a “new” air defense system in the attack. At present, Chinese companies are already believed to be supplying Iran with sanctioned dual-use technologies that could support the development of weapons and navigation systems. However, the direct transfer of complete weapons systems by the Chinese state would represent a much higher level of involvement.China is also preparing for high-level engagement with the United States, and Trump is expected to meet Xi in Beijing next month. The White House said that diplomatic contacts between US and Chinese officials continued even as ceasefire negotiations involving Iran continued.One source familiar with the intelligence assessment said China is unlikely to enter the conflict openly, because it sees little strategic benefit in the confrontation with the United States and Israel.Instead, Beijing is believed to aim to maintain its relationship with Iran while maintaining plausible deniability at the international level.Officials also highlight that China may argue that the systems are defensive in nature, distinguishing them from offensive weapons provided by other countries involved in the conflict. Russia, for example, has been accused of providing intelligence support to Iran during the war, while China and Russia maintain broader strategic ties with Tehran.Iran has long-standing military and economic relations with both countries. It has supplied Russia with witness drones for use in the Ukraine war, while also exporting a large share of its sanctioned oil to China.
