Trump downplays report of Chinese satellite intelligence provided to Iran prior to deadly base strike

U.S. President Donald Trump downplayed reports that Chinese entities provided Iranian forces with satellite imagery of a military base in Jordan prior to a July missile strike that killed three American soldiers, stating that intelligence-gathering activities between Washington and Beijing are reciprocal.

How did President Trump respond to reports of Chinese satellite assistance to Iran?

Speaking to reporters on Sunday aboard Air Force One, President Trump brushed aside questions regarding intelligence sharing between Chinese firms and Tehran, drawing a direct parallel between Chinese surveillance and U.S. operations. "You know, when they say that China spies on us, I say you're right, and we spy on them too," Trump stated. "That's what we do. They basically do what we do."

When asked whether he would raise the issue during his upcoming bilateral summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on September 24, Trump avoided a direct answer, remarking that Xi has "behaved reasonably well, and we behave reasonably well." He also highlighted his administration's economic stance toward Beijing, reiterating that U.S. tariffs have successfully prevented Chinese electric vehicles from entering the American market.

What did the intelligence report reveal about the July 17 attack in Jordan?

The White House comments follow a report by The Wall Street Journal disclosing that Iranian forces obtained high-resolution commercial satellite imagery from Chinese sources before and after launching a ballistic missile attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in northeastern Jordan on July 17. The strike killed three U.S. Army personnel assigned to air defense units—1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, and Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad—and wounded four others.

According to The Wall Street Journal, American officials linked the imagery to Iran’s improved targeting accuracy following earlier U.S. strikes that damaged Tehran’s indigenous radar and satellite capabilities. However, U.S. officials emphasized that they have not accused the Chinese government of directly authorizing the transfer or participating in the attack. When approached by U.S. counterparts, Chinese officials demanded formal proof and denied state involvement, maintaining that bilateral commerce aligns with international law.

The disclosure comes after Washington sanctioned three Chinese satellite firms in May 2026—MizarVision, Earth Eye, and Chang Guang—for providing imagery that could be utilized to observe U.S. assets in the Middle East.