US officials say Chinese entities allegedly provided Tehran with satellite imagery of a US military base in Jordan, while Beijing denies knowledge of the reported transfer.

US President Donald Trump has downplayed a report alleging that Chinese entities provided Iran with satellite imagery of a US military base in Jordan before and after an Iranian missile strike that killed three American soldiers.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump acknowledged that China conducts intelligence activities against the United States but said Washington also carries out intelligence operations against Beijing.

His comments followed a Wall Street Journal report alleging that Chinese entities shared intelligence with Tehran ahead of and following the July missile attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan.

The reported intelligence-sharing could further strain relations between Washington and Beijing, coming ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s planned state visit to the White House on September 24.

However, US officials cited by the Wall Street Journal did not identify the Chinese entities allegedly involved and did not accuse the Chinese government of directly providing the satellite imagery to Iran.

The report said Chinese officials, when questioned by US authorities, demanded evidence of the alleged transfer and denied knowledge of Chinese companies providing the images.

Iran launched missile strikes on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base on July 17, killing three US Army soldiers stationed at the facility.

The alleged sharing of satellite intelligence has added another layer to Washington’s concerns over China’s growing economic and strategic relationship with Iran.

Trump has previously warned China against selling weapons to Iran. In May, the United States also sanctioned three China-based satellite companies over alleged support for Iran’s military operations.

China remains a major economic and diplomatic partner of Iran and a significant buyer of Iranian oil, despite mounting pressure from Washington over Tehran’s military and economic ties with Beijing.

Trump, however, appeared to play down the broader tensions with China, saying Xi had behaved reasonably and maintaining that Washington and Beijing were dealing with each other in a reasonable manner.