China Rejects Allegations of Supplying Arms to Iran as 'Baseless'

Beijing. China has flatly rejected accusations of supplying weapons to Iran, labeling them as 'baseless and malicious.' Amidst warnings from the U.S. and reports in international media, Beijing reiterated that it is a country that adheres to responsible export policies.

U.S. President Donald Trump had warned that he would impose new tariffs of up to 50 percent if China provided military assistance to Iran. His statement came at a time when U.S. media outlets claimed that China was preparing to provide air defense systems to Iran in the near future.

CNN, citing U.S. intelligence sources, had indicated that China could send advanced defense systems to Iran within the next few weeks. Meanwhile, The New York Times also published concerns that Beijing might have already sent shoulder-fired missiles.

Responding to all these allegations, China made its official stance public on Monday. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated at a regular press conference that China always adopts strict control and responsible policies in the export of military materials. "We strongly oppose baseless smears and malicious accusations," he said.

China has clarified that its policy of tightening arms supplies remains in accordance with its export control laws and international obligations. This appears to be an attempt to signal that it is not involved in any form of irresponsible military intervention.

However, China and Iran maintain close economic ties. China is a major buyer of Iranian oil, playing a significant role in Tehran's energy exports. But according to analysts, there is no formal military alliance between the two countries, and their relationship is considered to be based primarily on economic and strategic interests.

Furthermore, China has been maintaining strong economic relations with other countries in the Gulf region as well. China has even criticized attacks carried out by Iran against those countries during the war, which indicates that Beijing is trying to adopt balanced diplomacy.