President Donald Trump stated Wednesday that Chinese President Xi Jinping has assured him in writing that China is not supplying weapons to Iran, following Trump's request that Beijing refrain from arming Tehran. The statement, made during a Fox Business Network interview taped Tuesday, arrives amid prior US intelligence reports indicating China was preparing to deliver air defense systems to Iran.
Trump's disclosure follows his threat last week to impose immediate 50% tariffs on countries supplying weapons to Iran. The President characterized Xi's written response as a denial, saying "he's not doing that" and "They have agreed not to send weapons to Iran." China has consistently denied such allegations, calling them "pure fabrication" and warning of "resolute retaliation" if tariffs are imposed.
Intelligence reports show conflicting picture
US intelligence agencies identified preparations by China to deliver advanced air defense systems, including man-portable surface-to-air missiles (MANPADS), to Iran, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the assessments. The arms transfers were being coordinated to transit through third countries to obscure their origin, arriving as a ceasefire between the United States and Iran entered its second week in early April.
The intelligence assessment follows years of documented military cooperation between Beijing and Tehran. Earlier this year, Iran moved closer to finalizing a deal for Chinese supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles, with multiple reports indicating the agreement was nearing completion, according to six people with knowledge of the negotiations. Chinese embassy officials have consistently denied providing weapons to any party in the Iran conflict.
Trump indicated that despite ongoing tensions over alleged Chinese weapons transfers, the "war on Iran" and global oil market disruptions would not impact his planned meeting with Xi next month. The exact date of the letter exchange between the two leaders was not specified.
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US-China meeting remains on track
Trump emphasized that his scheduled meeting with Xi would proceed despite the weapons controversy and the ongoing conflict with Iran. The President has maintained a US blockade of Iranian ports since mid-April, which China has criticized as "dangerous and irresponsible." Beijing imports significant quantities of oil from the Persian Gulf region, making stability in the area crucial for Chinese energy security.
The contradiction between Trump's characterization of Xi's assurance and prior intelligence assessments creates uncertainty about the status of any planned Chinese weapons transfers. It remains unclear whether intelligence now indicates the shipments have been cancelled, whether they are proceeding through channels that provide Beijing with plausible deniability, or whether Trump's statement represents a diplomatic framing intended to constrain future Chinese actions regardless of past intelligence.
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