US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before boarding Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on September 9, 2026. (Credit:Brendan Smialowski/ AFP)
US President Donald Trump on Sunday downplayed reports that Chinese entities had provided Tehran with satellite images of a military base in Jordan before and after an Iranian strike that killed three American soldiers.
“You know, when people say China is spying on us, I say you’re right, and we spy on them too,” Mr. Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, the day after the Wall Street Journal published an article reporting on the alleged sharing of intelligence between China and Iran. “That’s what we do. Basically, they do what we do,” the US president added.
On July 17, Iran launched missiles at the Muwaffaq Salti airbase in Jordan, where U.S. forces are stationed. Three American soldiers were killed. Unnamed U.S. officials quoted by the Wall Street Journal did not identify the Chinese entities involved and did not suggest that the Chinese government was directly responsible.
According to the newspaper, these officials raised the issue with Chinese officials, who demanded proof of the transfer of these satellite images and denied that Chinese companies were involved in supplying them to Tehran. In May, Washington sanctioned three Chinese-based satellite companies for facilitating Iranian military operations.
China is one of Iran's main economic partners, purchasing a large portion of its oil production. It is also a significant diplomatic supporter of Tehran. A state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the United States is scheduled for late September.
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