U.S. President Donald Trump appeared yesterday, Sunday, to downplay a report claiming that Chinese companies supplied Tehran with satellite imagery for militarya military base in Jordan before and after an Iranian missile strike that killed three American service members.
“You know, when they say that China is spying on us, I say, ‘You’re right, and we’re spying on them, too,’” the Republican told reporters aboard Air Force One when asked about a Wall Street Journal report alleging that Beijing had passed information to Tehran.
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“That’s what we do. Basically, they’re doing what we do,” the U.S. president added.
On July 17, Iran fired missiles at a base in Jordan where U.S. armed forces are stationed. Three U.S. service members were killed in the strikes.
U.S. officials who spoke to the Wall Street Journal on condition of anonymity did not name the Chinese entities they accused; nor did they imply that the Chinese government was directly responsible.
According to the report, the officials raised the issue with Chinese officials, who asked them if they had any evidence of the transfer of satellite imagery and did not acknowledge that Chinese companies were involved in supplying it to Tehran.
In May, Washington imposed sanctions on three satellite imagery collection companies in China, alleging that they facilitated Iranian military operations.
China is one of Iran’s main trading partners and purchases a large portion of the Islamic Republic’s oil production.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to make an official visit to the U.S. in late September.
Source: Protothema.gr
