US intelligence indicates China preparing weapons shipment to Iran, CNN reports

April 11, 2026 12:32 AM EDT

FILE PHOTO: The Pentagon building is seen in Arlington, Virginia, U.S. October 9, 2020. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo

April 11 (Reuters) - U.S. ‌intelligence indicates ​China ​is  preparing to deliver new air defense systems to Iran  within ‌the next few weeks,  CNN reported late ⁠on Friday, citing three  people familiar with ‌recent intelligence assessments.

The network ‌said there are indications Beijing is working to route  the shipments through third ​countries to  mask their origin.

U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking to a group ⁠of reporters on Saturday afternoon as he departed the White ​House to fly to Miami, said that "if China does that, China can ​have big problems."

He did ‌not elaborate.

The U.S. State Department, the Chinese embassy in Washington ⁠and China's foreign ministry did not respond to Reuters requests for comment earlier on ⁠Saturday.

Beijing is preparing to transfer shoulder-fired anti-air missile systems ​known as MANPADs, CNN said, citing sources it did not name.

The U.S. and Iran held high-level ‌negotiations nL1N40U01A on Saturday in Pakistan's capital Islamabad, seeking ways ‌to end their six week-old war.

(Reporting by ⁠Akanksha Khushi in ‌Bengaluru and Jonathan ​Landay in Washington; Editing by William Mallard, Jan Harvey and Paul ‌Simao)



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