US Claims China’s SMIC Provided Chipmaking Tech to Iran’s Military

According to two senior officials from the previous Trump administration, China’s largest chipmaker, SMIC (Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation), has reportedly supplied chipmaking tools to Iran’s military over the past year. This development has raised concerns about China’s position in the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran and threatens to escalate tensions between the United States and China, especially given the US efforts to restrict China’s access to advanced semiconductors. The officials, speaking anonymously, indicated that the collaboration likely included technical training on SMIC’s technology. While SMIC has previously denied any ties to the Chinese military-industrial complex, the US government has imposed sanctions on the company. China, maintaining it engages in normal trade with Iran, has not publicly taken a stance in the Middle East conflict. The provision of these tools to Iran’s “military industrial complex” could potentially be used for any electronics needing chips, and the US is actively trying to limit China’s semiconductor capabilities through sanctions on SMIC. This news follows recent reports suggesting Iran is close to a missile deal with China, adding further complexity to the volatile situation in the region and reflecting concerns about the proliferation of advanced technology.