China’s military technology may have played a role in supporting Iran during its recent conflict with the US, according to an NBC News report citing US officials and sources familiar with intelligence assessments.
According to NBC News, US investigators believe an American F-15E Strike Eagle jet that was shot down over southwestern Iran in April was likely hit by a Chinese-made shoulder-fired missile.
Although US officials were still investigating the incident, sources familiar with the probe told NBC that a Chinese-made man-portable air defense system was the most likely weapon used in the incident.
Both of the aircraft’s crew members had ejected safely. The pilot was rescued within hours, while the weapons-systems officer evaded capture in Iran’s Zagros Mountains before being recovered two days later, according to Pentagon accounts cited by NBC.
Beijing may have also provided Tehran with a long-range radar system
Further, NBC reported that Iran may have received a Chinese YLC-8B long-range radar system capable of detecting stealth aircraft, potentially improving Tehran’s ability to track advanced American and Israeli systems.
US officials have not publicly confirmed whether the radar was operational during the conflict.
If confirmed, the incident would mark the first time in decades that a US fighter aircraft was downed by enemy fire, while also raising new questions about the extent of Beijing’s support for Tehran during the conflict.
By and by, broader US concerns regarding Chinese support for Iran have existed for some time. Earlier this month, Washington sanctioned three Chinese satellite companies, alleging they provided imagery and data that helped Tehran target US forces in the Middle East.
Beijing denied the accusations.
Meanwhile, China’s embassy in Washington rejected suggestions that it had transferred military equipment to Iran, saying that Beijing “always acts prudently and responsibly” regarding military exports and complies with international obligations.
US officials quoted by NBC said any Chinese assistance provided to Tehran during the war did not significantly alter the battlefield balance.
“It was not significant support. There was no decisive operational impact to it,” one US official told the network.
China has long maintained close economic ties with Iran and remains the primary buyer of Iranian oil exports despite US sanctions.
Analysts cited by NBC said Beijing has increasingly provided the Islamic Republic with dual-use technologies and components that support both Iran’s civilian infrastructure and military and industrial bases.
Questions remain over Iranian drone and mine activity in Strait of Hormuz
Separately, NBC reported that the US military has not confirmed reports that Iran deployed naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, despite conducting repeated searches of the strategic waterway.
According to two US officials and another person familiar with the matter, American forces have yet to definitively identify any mines in the strait, raising questions about the extent of the threat posed during the conflict.
The uncertainty adds to ongoing confusion surrounding Iranian activity in and around the Gulf following Operation Roaring Lion.
Notably, the Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most important maritime choke points, carrying a significant portion of global oil shipments.
