According to CNN, a U.S. intelligence assessment indicates that China is preparing to provide Iran with new air defense systems in the coming weeks.The development comes as China publicly says it helped support efforts to broker a fragile ceasefire that halted the latest U.S.-Iran conflict.It also comes ahead of expected high-level talks as US President Donald Trump plans to visit China next month for discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping.Intelligence findings suggest Iran may be using the ceasefire period to rebuild parts of its air defense network with the assistance of key partners, despite ongoing international scrutiny.CNN quoted sources as saying that there are signs that China is trying to ship goods through third countries to conceal their origins. The system in question is a shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missile, known as a man-portable air defense system, which can pose a serious threat to low-flying military aircraft.These systems have already played an important role in the five-week conflict, and such weapons pose risks to U.S. aircraft operating in the region. Officials say they could become a threat again if the ceasefire is broken.A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington denied the accusations, saying China did not provide weapons to either side of the conflict.“China has never provided weapons to any party in the conflict; the relevant information is untrue.”The spokesperson also stated that China, as a “responsible major country”, is committed to shouldering its international obligations and urged the United States to avoid baseless claims.The embassy said earlier that China has been working hard to support efforts to end the conflict and promote a ceasefire.The intelligence also comes amid broader geopolitical tensions involving Iran’s military capabilities. During the conflict, Trump said an F-15 fighter jet was reportedly shot down by a “shoulder missile.”Iran has separately claimed to have used a “new” air defense system in the attack. Chinese companies are now believed to have supplied Iran with sanctioned dual-use technology that could support weapons development and navigation systems. However, a direct transfer of complete weapons systems by the Chinese government would represent a higher level of involvement.China is also preparing for high-level contacts with the United States, with Trump expected to meet Xi Jinping in Beijing next month. The White House said diplomatic contacts between U.S. and Chinese officials were continuing even as ceasefire talks involving Iran were ongoing.A source familiar with the intelligence assessment said China was unlikely to openly intervene in the conflict because it saw little strategic interest in confronting the United States and Israel.Instead, Beijing is believed to aim to maintain relations with Iran while maintaining reasonable deniability internationally.Officials also stressed 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 ties with both countries. It supplies Russia with Shahd drones used in the war in Ukraine, while also exporting a large portion of its sanctioned oil to China.
