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China’s foreign ministry has denied reports that Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) supplied chip manufacturing equipment to Iran. The ministry labeled these claims as false, after a report surfaced suggesting that SMIC started sending tools to Iran approximately a year ago, based on information from two anonymous senior officials in the U.S. government during the Trump administration. An American official quoted in the report stated there was no reason to believe that shipments had stopped.
China maintains a strategic partnership with Iran but has not announced any military support for Tehran amid the ongoing conflict sparked by U.S.-Israeli strikes on February 28. The Chinese chip company, SMIC, did not respond to AFP’s request for comment. When asked about the allegations during a regular news briefing in Beijing, foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian claimed he was “not familiar with the situation.”
Lin also noted that recent media reports have often been based on “false information” after “verification,” but did not specify which reports or details. While China has publicly condemned the U.S.-Israeli killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Beijing has also stated that it “does not support” Tehran’s strikes on Gulf states hosting U.S. military bases.
This week, top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi spoke with Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi via phone, expressing hope that all parties will “seize every opportunity for peace” and initiate peace negotiations.
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