US President Donald Trump has warned China against supplying weapons to Iran, as new reports alleging the use of a Chinese spy satellite in attacks on US military sites intensify geopolitical tensions.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump revealed he had written directly to Chinese President Xi Jinping urging him not to arm Iran, underscoring growing concerns over Beijing’s role in the Middle East conflict.
Trump flags direct warning to China
Trump said he sent a letter to Xi cautioning against any military support to Iran. According to him, the Chinese leader responded by denying that Beijing had supplied weapons. “I wrote to him asking him not to do that, and he wrote back saying he has not,” Trump said during the interview.
Although Trump did not specify when the correspondence took place, recent US intelligence reports have suggested China may be preparing to send air defence systems and portable missile launchers to Iran.
Reports of arms shipments spark alarm
The allegations have added to mounting friction between Washington and Beijing. US officials have warned that any confirmed transfer of weapons to Iran could trigger serious consequences for China.
Earlier, Trump had issued a public warning, saying such a move would create “a big problem” for China if proven true. The claims come amid heightened instability in the Middle East, where Iran has been accused of expanding its military capabilities with foreign support.
Spy satellite claims deepen tensions
Separately, a report by the Financial Times has alleged that Iran used a Chinese spy satellite to target US military infrastructure in the region. According to the report, Iran secretly acquired the satellite, launched by China in late 2024, and used it to monitor key US military sites before and after drone and missile strikes.
Leaked Iranian military documents cited by the newspaper reportedly include time-stamped coordinates, satellite imagery and orbital analysis, suggesting the system was actively used for reconnaissance.
Strategic risks for US forces
The use of satellite intelligence in military operations marks a significant escalation, raising concerns about the vulnerability of US assets in the Middle East. If confirmed, analysts say the development could reshape the strategic balance in the region and further strain already fragile US-China relations.
Washington has not officially verified the satellite claims, but the reports are likely to intensify scrutiny of China’s military cooperation with Iran.
Growing geopolitical confrontation
The combined allegations — potential arms transfers and satellite-assisted targeting — point to a widening confrontation involving major global powers.
As tensions rise, the situation underscores the increasing overlap between regional conflicts and global rivalries, with the US, China and Iran at the centre of a rapidly evolving security landscape.
