Russian man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS). Not directly related to the article's content. [TASS=Yonhap News]

U.S. intelligence agencies have reportedly identified that China may have directly supplied weapons to Iran recently.

Intelligence agencies have received information in recent weeks suggesting that China may have provided Iran with man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS), the New York Times (NYT) reported on the 11th (local time), citing U.S. government sources.

The possibility of China supplying weapons to Iran comes as President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit China next month for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

However, the sources stated that it is uncertain whether missile shipments have actually occurred, and there is currently no evidence that Chinese missiles have been used in the conflict between the U.S. and Israel and Iran.

Man-portable air-defense systems are missiles that a soldier can fire from their shoulder, primarily used to shoot down low-flying aircraft.

Previously, CNN also reported, citing intelligence sources, that China showed signs of attempting to transport these missiles to Iran via a third country.

China is assessed to be covertly supporting Iran by allowing some of its companies to export chemicals, fuels, and components that can be repurposed for military use to Iran, but confirmed provision of finished weapon systems has not been verified.

Russia has also provided Iran with food, non-lethal military supplies, and satellite information needed to target U.S. warships and military/diplomatic facilities, but is excluding weapon supplies.

If China has allowed missile exports, it would signify a significant expansion of its involvement, indicating that China is quietly yet actively moving to engineer a U.S. defeat in the Middle East conflict.

Indeed, some within China's political circles are advocating for direct weapon support to Iran, which is in conflict with the United States.

China is Iran's largest trading partner and also the largest importer of Iranian crude oil.

Conversely, China experts point out that China's foreign policy has been largely neutral throughout this war.

This is analyzed to be because China also maintains close economic ties with the Arab countries that have been attacked by Iran.

Henrietta Levin, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), pointed out, "China is speaking more on the side of the Gulf states rather than Iran," adding, "Economic, technological, and energy relations with the Gulf region are strategically more important to China than any relationship with Iran."

U.S. administration officials also assess that China, heavily reliant on crude oil passing through the Strait of Hormuz, would not want the war to be prolonged.

The Chinese Embassy in the U.S. has strongly denied allegations of missile support to Iran.

Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy, emphasized, "China has never provided weapons to either party in the conflict, and the information is not true."

Liu continued, "We urge the U.S. side to refrain from baseless accusations and to avoid malicious fabrication of connections or sensationalist behavior," adding, "We hope that the relevant parties will make greater efforts to de-escalate tensions."