Donald Trump has brushed aside revelations that Chinese entities allegedly provided Tehran with satellite imagery of a military base in Jordan before and after an Iranian strike that killed three American soldiers, offering a blunt justification for the reported intelligence sharing.
“Basically, they’re doing what we do,” the US president told reporters aboard Air Force One, a day after the Wall Street Journal published its account of the purported exchange between Chinese and Iranian actors.
“You know, when they say China is spying on us, I say you’re right, and we spy on them too,” Trump added, minimizing the significance of the allegations.
What the Report Alleges
According to the Wall Street Journal, Chinese entities supplied Tehran with satellite images of the Muwaffaq Salti air base in Jordan, where US forces are stationed. On July 17, Iran launched missiles at the facility, killing three soldiers.
Anonymous US officials cited by the newspaper did not identify which Chinese entities were involved, nor did they suggest that the Chinese government bore direct responsibility for the transfer.
The officials reportedly raised the matter with their Chinese counterparts, who requested evidence of the satellite imagery transfer and did not acknowledge that Chinese companies had been involved in providing it to Tehran.
Broader Context of US-China-Iran Tensions
The revelations come amid a complex web of geopolitical relationships and recent punitive measures:
- In May, Washington sanctioned three China-based satellite companies for facilitating Iranian military operations.
- Beijing remains one of Tehran’s principal economic partners, purchasing a large share of Iranian oil production while extending significant diplomatic support.
- A state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the United States is scheduled for late September, adding a sensitive diplomatic dimension to the dispute.
The episode also follows earlier tensions over leaks related to the Iran conflict, which prompted the Pentagon to subject senior officials to polygraph tests.
The White House has not indicated whether the reported intelligence sharing will affect preparations for Xi’s upcoming visit or prompt any change in Washington’s posture toward Beijing.
