US intelligence agencies have indicated that China may be taking a more active role in the ongoing Middle East conflict, with officials suggesting that Beijing could have supplied weapons and other support to Iran.
According to reports by NYT, U.S. intelligence reports show that China may have recently sent a shipment of shoulder-fired missiles, also known as MANPADS, to Iran.
However, they noted that the information is not conclusive and there is no evidence the weapons have been used against forces from the United States or Israel.
Despite the uncertainty, the reports point to growing concern in Washington that China is becoming increasingly involved in the conflict.
Intelligence assessments indicate that Beijing has allowed some Chinese companies to supply Iran with materials such as chemicals, fuel and industrial components that could be used in military production.
Officials said China has traditionally avoided sending finished military equipment directly to Iran, but there are indications that some within the Chinese government are pushing for a more direct role in supporting Tehran during the war.
If confirmed, such a move would mark a significant escalation and suggest that China is willing to take a more assertive stance in a conflict that has drawn in major global powers.
The intelligence findings come amid broader concerns about external involvement in the war. U.S. agencies have also observed that Russia has provided Iran with satellite intelligence, which has reportedly been used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to target U.S. ships and installations across the Middle East.
The developments highlight the increasing complexity of the conflict, raising fears that the war could expand further as more global powers become indirectly or directly involved.
