Trump Plays Down Report of Chinese Help to Iran Before Deadly Jordan Attack
Trump brushed aside a report that Iran obtained satellite images of a Jordan base from Chinese entities before a July attack that killed three US troops.
US President Donald Trump on Sunday played down a report that Iran had obtained satellite imagery of a base in Jordan from Chinese entities before an attack there in July that killed three American troops.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One as he returned from a weekend trip to Ireland, Trump was asked whether he would raise the matter at an upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He did not answer directly, instead drawing a parallel between the surveillance activities of the two countries.
"They basically do what we do," he said. "When they say China spies on us, I say you're right and we spy on them too."
The report, which could not be immediately verified, cited unnamed US officials and said they declined to identify the Chinese entities that supplied the imagery to Iran. It did not allege direct involvement by Beijing.
Trump reiterated that he believes he has a good relationship with Xi. "I think he's behaved reasonably well, and we behave reasonably well," he said.
The two presidents are expected to meet in the United States on September 24, though China has not yet officially confirmed the meeting will take place.
Trump's remarks appeared in line with his administration's recent efforts to tone down broad tensions between Washington and Beijing, despite US frustration over China's close ties to Tehran.