US President Donald Trump said he would be “quite disappointed” if Chinese President Xi Jinping broke a personal promise not to arm Iran. Trump made the remarks amid renewed accusations against US health official Anthony Fauci, whom he claimed shielded Beijing from scrutiny over Covid-19 origins. These comments coincided with Fauci's appearance before a Senate committee.

Separately, Reuters reported that Iran is expected to receive 300 to 400 Chinese-made shoulder-fired air-defence missile systems within weeks. The weapons are reportedly to be transported from western China through Pakistan under a deal valued between US$60 million and US$70 million.

Beijing had previously rejected claims of supplying weapons to Iran as “completely groundless” ahead of Trump's visit in May. When asked about the latest report, Trump said he would find it “surprising,” adding that Xi had told him very strongly that he wouldn’t partake in arming Iran.

Sources