Is China Supplying Weapons to Iran?

The Chinese government has described reports that it has supplied or intends to supply weapons to Iran as “unfounded slander”. This statement came after several media outlets cited US intelligence sources making such claims.

Earlier on Sunday (12 April), US President Donald Trump threatened Beijing with new “surprising” tariffs of 50 per cent if they provide military assistance to Tehran.

According to AFP news agency on Monday (13 April 2026), Trump’s comments emerged on the same day that US media outlet CNN reported that US intelligence indicates China is preparing to send a new air defence system to Iran in the coming weeks. The report cited three individuals familiar with the assessment.

Over the weekend, The New York Times also quoted US officials stating that US intelligence suggests Beijing may have sent a shipment of cruise missiles.

The Chinese government denied the reports. Beijing stated that it “always exercises caution and responsibility regarding the export of military goods, implementing strict controls in accordance with its own export control laws and regulations as well as its international obligations”.

“We oppose unfounded slander or malicious associations,” said spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Guo Jiakun, during the regular press conference on Monday (13 April 2026).

China is Iran’s main economic partner – they purchase most of the Middle Eastern country’s oil.

However, the two countries do not have a formal military pact. Many analysts say that Beijing largely views the relationship between the two as transactional.

China also has strong economic ties with Gulf countries, and has criticised Iran’s attacks on them during the US-Israel war with Iran.