Chinese entities reportedly supplied high-resolution satellite imagery to Iran before a July 17 missile strike that killed three American service members. U.S. officials linked this data directly to the attack on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. Four other troops were injured in the blast, which officials now call the clearest evidence of Chinese support for Iran's deadly actions.
Unnamed American officials told the Daily Caller that this intelligence sharing represents the strongest proof yet of foreign aid enabling conflict against U.S. forces. An official from the War Department refused to elaborate on specifics, noting that the department does not comment on intelligence-related matters, yet senior officials have already alerted their Chinese counterparts to these findings.
President Donald Trump addressed the report while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday. He acknowledged the allegations that Chinese entities provided the imagery used in the attack. When asked about the situation, Trump said that China spies on the United States just as the United States does.
Trump said that China spies on the U.S. and that the U.S. spies on China. Despite the lethal attack, the President noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping has behaved reasonably well. Trump also stated that the U.S. behaves reasonably well regarding the current situation. The New York Post covered these remarks made just days before a scheduled summit.
The report also notes that Russia provided similar assistance to Iran to help target American assets in the region. The Associated Press cited two U.S. officials familiar with the matter regarding the Russian involvement. No direct involvement by the Chinese government in the attack itself was alleged by U.S. officials, nor were specific suppliers identified.
Xi is scheduled to visit Washington on Sept. 24 for a high-stakes summit with President Trump. This meeting comes just as the U.S. sanctioned multiple individuals and entities in May 2026 for allegedly helping Iran obtain sensitive satellite data. According to reports, China warned on Saturday that it would scrap the summit if the U.S. authorizes more arms sales to Taiwan.
The timing of this revelation places immense pressure on the upcoming diplomatic talks between the two world leaders. Fox News reported that the U.S. officials described the imagery support as having deadly consequences for American forces. The core allegation relies on unnamed officials, leaving the specific Chinese suppliers unidentified for now. This unconfirmed detail remains a key point as the White House prepares for the visit.
