Trump rejects claims China gave Iran satellite images
The US president downplayed reports that Chinese entities supplied imagery before the July strike that killed three American soldiers, ahead of Xi’s planned Sept. 24 White House visit.
President Donald Trump dismissed reports that Chinese entities provided satellite imagery to Iran ahead of the July strike on a U.S. base that killed three American service members.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on September 13, 2026, after returning from a visit to Ireland, Trump said the allegations were overstated and stressed that U.S. intelligence also monitors China.
Trump plays down claims before Xi meeting
“You know, when they say China is spying on us, I say that you are right — but we spy on them too,” Trump told reporters. He added: “That’s what we do. Basically, they do the same thing we do.”
The comments came amid a Wall Street Journal report that cited unnamed U.S. officials who declined to identify which Chinese organizations allegedly supplied the imagery, and said there was no indication Beijing was directly involved.
Trump also declined to say whether he would raise the matter with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is expected to visit the White House on September 24, 2026 — a meeting Beijing has not officially confirmed. The administration has sought to lower tensions with China during Trump’s second term, despite concerns in Washington over Beijing’s ties to Iran.
Earlier this year, U.S. authorities warned China against supplying arms to Iran; in May the United States imposed sanctions on three Chinese satellite companies for cooperating with Iranian military actors. China remains a major economic and diplomatic partner of Iran and one of the largest buyers of Iranian oil.
Photo: press material from the event
