The China has warned it will take decisive countermeasures if US President Donald Trump follows through on threats to impose new tariffs over allegations that Beijing is supplying or planning to supply weapons to Iran.
The warning comes ahead of Trump’s scheduled visit to Beijing next month for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, a meeting already drawing global attention amid rising geopolitical tensions.
Trump said on Sunday that the United States would impose a 50 per cent tariff on Chinese goods if Beijing provided military assistance to Iran. His remarks followed media reports suggesting that China may be preparing to deliver advanced air defence systems to Tehran.
According to reports by US media outlets, intelligence assessments indicated that China could supply such systems within weeks. Other reports suggested that shoulder-fired missiles may have already been delivered.
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However, China has strongly denied the claims. Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun described the allegations as “completely fabricated.”
“If the US insists on using this as an excuse to impose additional tariffs on China, China will definitely take resolute countermeasures,” Guo said.
China remains one of Iran’s key economic partners, particularly as a major buyer of Iranian oil. Despite this, analysts note that the relationship is largely driven by economic interests, as there is no formal military alliance between the two countries.
At the same time, Beijing maintains strong economic ties with Gulf nations and has, in the past, criticised Iran’s actions in the region, highlighting the complex balancing act in its Middle East diplomacy.
The latest exchange signals a potential escalation in trade and diplomatic tensions between the world’s two largest economies, with implications for global markets and international security.