Beijing Supplied Tehran with Sensitive Drone, Missile Components

Data has revealed that China dispatched sensitive components to Tehran, usable in drones and missile guidance systems, coinciding with a temporary truce signed between the United States and Iran last June. While Beijing praised the agreement's role in de-escalating Middle East tensions and announced its diplomatic efforts for peace, a plane from China landed in Tehran. According to information, the aircraft carried a shipment for the Iranian Ministry of Defense, comprising dual-use electronic components. Customs data also indicated approximately 1,300 shipments of Chinese dual-use components to the Iranian Ministry of Defense up to June of this year, including electronics, engines, GPS equipment, and aircraft parts that can be utilized in drones and missiles. The data suggests that the pace of shipments accelerated after the United States imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports, with the sanctioned Iranian airline Mahan Air sharply increasing its cargo flights from China. Furthermore, Chinese companies supplied chemical materials used in the production of ballistic missiles. US officials have imposed sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong entities accused of assisting Iran in acquiring weapons and military technologies. On the military front, US officials reported that satellite images obtained from Chinese sources were linked to an Iranian attack that resulted in the deaths of three US soldiers. Chinese companies also assisted, according to a document and informed sources, in providing raw chemical materials used in the manufacturing of the ballistic missile types deployed in that specific attack. These activities highlight a level of Chinese support for Iran that was not previously disclosed or publicly acknowledged by the administration of former US President Donald Trump. For its part, Beijing affirmed its consistent adherence to international rules and opposed any attempts to defame it by linking it to the conflict. It added that it maintains cooperation with Iran and supports all efforts aimed at achieving peace in the Middle East. China previously emphasized its strict control over the export of dual-use components that can be employed for both civilian and military purposes. It declared its rejection of unilateral US sanctions, including those penalizing unauthorized trade in dual-use materials, considering such sanctions a violation of international law. It is worth noting that China has become the sole major buyer of Iranian oil despite US sanctions aimed at halting these flows, providing billions of dollars to Tehran this year. According to US officials and individuals familiar with financial movements, Chinese front companies aided in laundering these funds, while Chinese banks processed transactions through the Chinese financial system and in Chinese currency to circumvent US oversight.