WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Saturday told reporters that China will have “big problems” if it ships arms to Iran.
Trump was reacting to a report by CNN saying US intelligence believe China is preparing to deliver new air defense systems to Iran within the next few weeks.
Beijing is preparing to transfer shoulder-fired anti-air missile systems known as MANPADs, CNN said, citing sources it did not name.
The network said there are indications Beijing is working to route the shipments through third countries to mask their origin.
Trump, speaking to a group of reporters on Saturday afternoon as he departed the White House to fly to Miami, said that “if China does that, China can have big problems.”
He did not elaborate.
The US State Department, the Chinese embassy in Washington and China’s foreign ministry did not respond to Reuters requests for comment earlier on Saturday.
The US and Iran held high-level negotiations on Saturday in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, seeking ways to end their six week-old war.
