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By JON MICHAEL RAASCH, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT
Published: | Updated:
Donald Trump was shocked to hear that China is reportedly supplying weapons to Iran, responding with some consternation.
China and Iran struck a deal for Beijing to send up to 400 Chinese-made shoulder-fired air defense launchers to the Islamic Republic, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.
The deal will enable Tehran’s fighters to more readily defend themselves against US air assets as American forces enjoy air superiority over Iran.
Trump has repeatedly said that he’s spoken to Chinese President Xi Jinping, and that the foreign leader ‘agreed not to send weapons to Iran.’
The president even threatened China over the weekend, saying it would ‘be very bad for them’ if they did.
But the President was seemingly caught off guard by the latest Reuters report.
‘That would be surprising,’ Trump responded to a question about the report.’I mean, things like that happen.’
‘He (Xi) told me very strongly he wouldn’t partake, and he knows I’d be quite disappointed.’
President Donald Trump, shown above with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing in May, was shocked to hear about a report indicating that China has approved arms sales to Iran
Chinese State media shows the launch of the QW-12 missile system intercepting a target during tests. Three sources told Reuters that a deal for China to send Iran 300 to 400 QW-12 and FN-16 shoulder-fired air defense systems has been signed
‘Well, that would be surprising,’ Trump responded to a question about the report. ‘I mean, things like that happen … He (Xi) told me very strongly he wouldn’t partake, and he knows I’d be quite disappointed’
But the Chinese Foreign Ministry flatly denied the reporting about the arms sale.
‘The relevant reports are completely groundless. China has consistently played a role in promoting peace and ending the conflict.’
The sources who spoke with Reuters cautioned that though the arms deal had been signed, details of the agreement, like delivery schedules and quantities, may still be changed.
They shared that under the agreement, shipments of the air defense systems will depart from the western Chinese city of Urumqi before traveling to Pakistan and then on to Iran.
‘Speculations of Pakistan being involved in supply of Air Defence weapons to Iran from China are absolutely concocted and false,’ Pakistan’s military media, ISPR, said in a statement.
The reported sale underscores Iran’s diminished capacity to defend itself from US forces and its reliance on US rivals.
Experts have warned that the shoulder-launch systems are more portable and difficult to target, as users can quickly go outside, open fire at their objective and return indoors.
Other Iranian air defense systems are more static and less maneuverable, making them easier targets for US troops.
Trump has said repeatedly that Xi has assured him that China would not supply Iran with arms
Chinese soldiers particiapte in a combat demonstration in Hong Kong on June 27
The QW-12 and FN-16 are infrared-guided missile defense systems made to engage low-flying crafts, like helicopters and drones.
The shipment will reportedly contain 300 to 400 of these systems.
Earlier in April, Trump remarked that China had sent Iran a ‘gift’ that was intercepted by US forces.
‘We caught a ship yesterday that had some things on it, which wasnt very nice. A gift from China perhaps, I dont know, but I was a little surprised,’ Trump said at the time.
Trump did not expound on what consequences, if any, China would face for the reported arms sale.