Iran killed three American service members on July 17 with a deadly missile strike at the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, and U.S. officials now confirm Chinese entities supplied the high-resolution satellite imagery used to target that base, according to reports. This intelligence link marks the clearest proof yet that foreign support for Iran has directly harmed American forces. Unnamed officials told The Daily Caller that this is the strongest evidence of Chinese involvement in the conflict between Washington and Tehran. A War Department official stated, “As a matter of practice, we do not comment on intelligence-related matters” when asked about these specific findings.
Neither the U.S. Central Command nor the Chinese Embassy provided an immediate response when pressed for comment. Senior American officials reportedly flagged these findings to their Chinese counterparts, who denied the allegations and demanded evidence. The U.S. had already sanctioned multiple individuals in May 2026 for allegedly helping Iran obtain similar sensitive imagery, so this isn’t the first time they’ve crossed this line.
President Donald Trump addressed the report while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, dismissing the idea that the satellite imagery gave China a unique advantage. “They basically do what we do,” Trump stated when asked about the Wall Street Journal story regarding the imagery supplied before the July 17 missile attack. He was also asked if he planned to raise the issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his upcoming visit, and Trump said Xi has “behaved reasonably well.” He added that “we behave reasonably well” in return, then summarized his view on the espionage situation directly to the press.
“You know what they say? That China spies on us. I say you’re right, and we spy on them, too.” The President’s comments come just days before a scheduled summit with Xi at the White House on Sept. 24. New York Post — Politics noted that China had threatened to cancel this meeting if the U.S. approved additional arms sales to Taiwan. Fox News Digital was unable to reach the White House immediately to seek further comment on the President’s statements.
The report from The Associated Press, citing two U.S. officials, also noted that Russia provided similar assistance to help Iran target American assets. This support from both China and Russia highlights a coordinated effort to undermine U.S. military positions in the region. The U.S. officials did not identify the specific Chinese entities involved in supplying the imagery, but the pattern is clear.
The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that the imagery was obtained before the lethal strike that injured four other service members. Unnamed officials described the development as having deadly consequences for American forces during the ongoing war. The findings were shared with Chinese leaders, who continue to deny any wrongdoing. President Xi is set to travel to Washington on Sept. 24 to attend the summit with President Trump, and the clock is ticking on whether those talks will even happen.
