Trump downplays report China entities helped Iran before attack that killed US troops

On Sunday, US President Donald Trump dismissed a report that entities from China aided Iran prior to an attack on a US base in Jordan, resulting in the deaths of three American troops in July. A Wall Street Journal article cited unnamed US officials regarding the incident in Jordan. When asked if he would address the matter during an upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump did not provide a direct response.

Instead, he made a comparison between China and the United States, stating, "They basically do what we do. When they say China spies on us, I say you're right and we spy on them too."

The Chinese and US presidents are scheduled to meet in the United States on September 24, though China has not officially confirmed the meeting. Trump reiterated his belief in a good relationship with Xi, saying, "I think he's behaved reasonably well, and we behave reasonably well." The Wall Street Journal report, which Reuters could not independently verify, did not allege direct involvement by Beijing and only cited the US officials who declined to identify the Chinese entities that supplied the imagery to Iran.

Trump's remarks align with the administration's recent attempts to downplay the tensions between Washington and Beijing, even as there is US frustration over China's close ties with Tehran. Since the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran began late in February, at least 18 US service personnel have been killed.