China Calls Report on Arms Supplies to Iran Baseless Smear

China on Monday called reports that Beijing had supplied or intended to supply weapons to Iran "baseless slander," after several media outlets quoted US intelligence sources as saying so.

Over the weekend, The New York Times quoted US officials as saying that US intelligence showed that Beijing may have sent a shoulder missile shipment.

China denied the report, saying on Monday it "has always adopted a cautious and responsible attitude towards the export of military goods, implemented strict controls in accordance with its own export control laws and regulations and its international obligations."

"We oppose unfounded slander or evil associations," Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a regular press conference, launching Al Arabiya from AFP (13/4).

Earlier, President Donald Trump on Sunday threatened the Bamboo Curtain with "shocking" new tariffs of 50 percent if they provided military aid to Tehran.

His comments came on the same day as US media CNN reported US intelligence indicated China was preparing to send a new air defence system to Iran in the coming weeks, citing three people familiar with the assessment.

China is Iran's main economic partner, buying most of the oil produced by the country of the mullahs.

However, the two countries have no formal military pact, and many analysts say Beijing largely sees the relationship between the two as a transactional one.

On the other hand, China also has strong economic ties with the Gulf states and has criticized Iran's attacks against them during the war.