Thirteen Democratic military veterans in the US Congress have urged President Donald Trump to directly confront Chinese President Xi Jinping over allegations that Chinese entities supplied Iran with satellite imagery linked to a deadly attack on a US military base in Jordan. The demand was made ahead of Xi's scheduled White House meeting with Trump on 24 September.

The Deadly Attack at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base

An Iranian ballistic missile struck sleeping quarters at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan on 17 July, killing three US service members and wounding four others. According to the lawmakers, US officials had linked the attack to high-resolution satellite imagery of the base that Iran allegedly obtained from Chinese entities — a finding first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

The letter, led by Representative Pat Ryan and co-signed by Representative Chrissy Houlahan and 11 other Democratic veterans, said the Trump administration was already aware that such coordination was taking place before the attack.

What the Lawmakers Are Demanding

The legislators called on Trump to publicly condemn China's alleged support for Iranian forces and demand an immediate end to cooperation between Chinese entities and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). In their letter, they pointed to an earlier action by the State Department in May, which sanctioned three China-based firms for supplying Iran with satellite imagery of American and allied military installations.

The lawmakers further alleged that Chinese companies had supplied raw materials used in the production of Iranian Shahed drones, delivered chipmaking equipment to the IRGC, and sold shoulder-launched missile systems to Iran. They also cited reports that senior US officials had spent months warning Chinese counterparts that firms within China were providing Iran with targeting data.

Ryan's Sharp Words for Trump

Representative Pat Ryan, a former US Army Intelligence Officer who served 27 months in combat in Iraq, was pointed in his criticism. '22 brave Americans have lost their lives in Trump's war with Iran. We now know that at least three of those deaths directly resulted from President Xi sharing key intelligence about U.S. positions with Iran. Instead of holding China accountable, Trump is rolling out the red carpet,' Ryan said.

Ryan added: 'From intelligence sharing to assistance with weapons manufacturing, President Trump must send a strong clear message to Beijing that aiding the IRGC to kill US troops will not be tolerated.'

The letter also criticised Trump for saying that Xi had 'behaved reasonably well' when asked whether he would raise the matter with the Chinese leader, calling it 'a direct and egregious betrayal of our troops.'

Broader China-Iran Context

The allegations come against the backdrop of a deepening China-Iran relationship spanning several decades. The two nations signed a 25-year cooperation agreement in 2021 covering energy, infrastructure, and trade. This latest controversy adds a security dimension to that strategic partnership that Washington has long viewed with concern.

Notably, the letter was signed by 13 lawmakers — Houlahan, Ryan, Salud Carbajal, Gilbert Cisneros, Herbert Conaway, Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander, Ted Lieu, Seth Moulton, Mike Thompson, Derek Tran, and Eugene Vindman — all of whom have military service records. The White House, the Chinese government, and Iran had not publicly responded to the allegations at the time of publication.

What to Watch Next

With the Trump-Xi White House meeting scheduled for 24 September, the international spotlight will be on whether Trump raises China's alleged intelligence support for Iran — or sidesteps the issue in favour of trade and economic talks. The outcome could define the next chapter of US-China-Iran relations and determine whether Congress escalates its pressure through legislative action.