US Intel Assesses China to Supply Iran with MANPADS

U.S. intelligence officials have assessed that China is preparing to supply Iran with shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missile systems in the coming weeks, potentially routing the shipments through third countries to obscure their origin, even as a fragile ceasefire holds in the ongoing conflict between Iran and a U.S.-Israeli alliance.

The assessments, based on recent intelligence, indicate that the systems in question are man-portable air-defense systems, or MANPADS, which can threaten low-flying aircraft. These weapons presented challenges to U.S. forces during the five-week war that began on February 28, when the U.S. and Israel launched military operations against Iran. The ceasefire, which took effect this Wednesday and is set to last two weeks, has paused hostilities but raised concerns that Iran may be using the pause to replenish its arsenal with help from international partners.

A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington denied the allegations, stating, "China has never provided weapons to any party to the conflict; the information in question is untrue." The spokesperson added, "As a responsible major country, China consistently fulfills its international...