With the increasing indirect role of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the Iran crisis, the risk of escalating global conflict has also risen, sparking new concerns about the possibility of the CCP providing weapons to Iran for use against the US military.
So far, Beijing has officially supported Iran only through diplomatic statements regarding strikes against Iran by the US and Israel. However, CCP’s clandestine support for Iran, including in the form of weapons support, has started to surface, drawing attention.
During an appearance on the Fox Business Channel’s “Maria Morning Show,” Senior Researcher Zhang Jiadun from the Gatestone Institute discussed Beijing’s support for Iran and how it could rapidly escalate tensions between the US and China with host Maria Bartiromo.
Zhang pointed out that reports suggest the advanced weaponry used by Iran may be linked to China, which would increase the risk of any future conflicts in the region.
“The supersonic missiles launched by Iran against our ‘Abraham Lincoln’ aircraft carrier are made in China… It’s clear that Iran possesses more Chinese-made missiles,” Zhang said.
According to Reuters, Iran is set to reach an agreement with Beijing to acquire 50 CM-302 supersonic anti-ship missiles – an export version of the CCP’s YJ-12 missile capable of flying at speeds of 3 Mach and performing ultra-low-level sea-skimming flights. Military analysts refer to it as a “carrier killer.”
Zhang warned that any direct event targeting US military assets could immediately alter the relationship between the US and China.
“Let’s hope that such an event won’t occur. If one of those missiles were to hit a US warship… our relationship with China would change overnight,” Zhang said.
The Wall Street Japan reported that according to US officials, Chinese companies remain significant suppliers of material to the Iranian military, providing goods with potential military applications, such as engines used in Iran’s “Shahed” drones, rocket fuel chemicals, and various electronic components for weapons. The Pentagon stated in December last year that a China-based commercial satellite company had engaged in business dealings with the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
According to Hua Ri, in the past year, two ships associated with a state-owned Iranian enterprise departed from China carrying materials capable of producing about 260 medium-range missile solid propellant ingredients totaling 1,000 tons. Iran ordered several thousand tons of missile fuel components from China in mid-2025.
The Washington Post recently reported that following the US strikes against Iran, Beijing allowed two Iranian state-owned vessels docked at Chinese ports to load sodium chlorate, a raw material used in manufacturing solid missile fuel.
Zhang informed Fox that the broader concern lies in the CCP’s intervention not being limited to isolated support but rather encompassing multi-layered assistance that extends beyond direct military operations.
“The CCP’s support for Iran is comprehensive… It covers everything beyond combat forces… We should regard China (CCP) as enemy combatants,” he said.
As tensions continue in the Strait of Hormuz, Zhang believes that the current situation poses an increasingly severe challenge for the US from a competitor who both benefits from conflicts and seeks to evade direct responsibility.