Trump warns China of serious consequences if it supplies weapons to Iran

US President Donald Trump warned on Sunday, April 12, that China would face "big problems" if it went ahead with plans to send weapons to Iran.

Speaking to reporters as he left the White House for Florida, Trump reacted to recent reports about Beijing's military cooperation with Tehran.

"If China does this, China is going to have big problems, okay?" the US president declared.

Trump declined to specify whether he had discussed the issue directly with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, whom he is scheduled to meet early next month.

The warning comes after a major intelligence revelation on Saturday, which showed that China may be preparing to send advanced air defense systems to Iran within weeks.

According to three CNN sources, Tehran is likely to use the current two-week ceasefire to replenish its arsenal.

Intelligence suggests that Beijing is attempting to arrange the delivery of man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) through third-party countries to maintain credible deniability.

While Chinese firms have previously supplied dual-use technologies, such as artificial intelligence-driven navigation systems, directly providing lethal equipment would represent a significant escalation.

The Chinese embassy in Washington has dismissed the allegations as “baseless,” insisting that Beijing remains a neutral party in the conflict that began on February 28. However, US officials remain cautious, especially after Russia and China recently vetoed a UN Security Council resolution aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

As the April 22 ceasefire deadline approaches, the potential influx of Chinese MANPADs could alter the tactical balance on the ground, further complicating the “crucial,” but currently stalled, peace talks in Islamabad.

The GeoPost