Trump dismisses claim Chinese entities helped Iran before deadly US attack

On Sunday, US President Donald Trump dismissed a report suggesting that Iranian entities had obtained satellite images of a Jordanian military base from Chinese sources prior to an attack that resulted in the deaths of three American troops in July. The Wall Street Journal cited unnamed US officials in the report, but Reuters could not independently verify the information.

When asked about the issue during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump did not directly address it. Instead, he equated the surveillance activities of China and the United States, stating that they both conduct similar activities. Trump expressed that both nations spy on each other, and he maintained a positive view of his relationship with Xi, saying they both conduct themselves reasonably well.

The Wall Street Journal report, while not immediately verifiable by Reuters, stated that US officials did not identify the Chinese entities involved in providing the imagery to Iran nor did they allege direct involvement by Beijing. Trump's comments align with the administration's recent strategy to downplay tensions between the US and China, despite US frustration over Beijing's close ties with Tehran.