Trump Says US Also Conducts Surveillance as Iran Satellite Images Draw Attention

US President Donald Trump has played down allegations that Chinese companies provided Iran with satellite imagery of a US military base in Jordan before a deadly missile attack, saying that intelligence gathering is a practice carried out by major powers, including the United States and China. “China spies on us, and we spy on them too,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday when asked about the allegations, Reuters reported.

Trump's comments came after The Wall Street Journal reported that Iran had obtained high-resolution satellite imagery from Chinese entities before and after a July 17 missile strike on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in northeastern Jordan. The attack reportedly killed three US service members and injured four others. According to the newspaper, US officials familiar with the matter believe satellite imagery supplied by Chinese entities was connected to Iran's attack on the military facility. The officials did not identify the Chinese companies that allegedly provided the imagery.

The satellite images reportedly offered detailed information about the US facility, potentially giving Iran a clearer picture of the base and the personnel and military assets operating there. American officials had previously raised concerns with Chinese counterparts over the possibility that Chinese companies were supplying satellite imagery to Iran that could be used to monitor US military installations and personnel in the region. China has rejected the allegations and challenged Washington to provide evidence supporting the claims. Chinese officials have also defended Beijing's cooperation with Tehran, saying such activities are consistent with international law.

Trump, meanwhile, did not suggest that he planned to make the allegations a major issue in his expected meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. When asked whether he would confront Xi over the reported satellite imagery, Trump instead pointed to the broader practice of intelligence gathering between major powers. Reuters reported that Trump described his relationship with Xi as good and suggested that China's activities were not fundamentally different from those carried out by the United States.

“I think China basically does what we do,” Trump said. Trump's remarks indicate that Washington may currently view the reported satellite imagery issue as part of the wider intelligence competition between major powers rather than as an immediate reason for confrontation with Beijing. The allegations nevertheless highlight growing concerns over the use of commercial satellite technology to gather detailed information about military facilities and operations.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from PTI.