Beijing denies reports of SMIC supplying chipmaking tools to Iran

WEB DESK: China’s foreign ministry has dismissed claims that the country’s leading semiconductor manufacturer has been supplying critical technology to Iran, labelling the allegations as “false information.”

The rebuttal follows a report, citing two unidentified senior officials from US President Donald Trump’s administration, which alleged that Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) began exporting chipmaking tools to Tehran approximately one year ago, according to Dawn News.

A US official quoted in the report suggested there was “no reason to believe” the shipments had ceased.

Calls for de-escalation

Responding to the claims during a regular press briefing in Beijing, foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian stated he was “not familiar with the situation” but took aim at recent media coverage.

“What I can tell you is that recently, some media have been keen on releasing some news that seems right but instead is wrong,” Lin remarked, adding that subsequent verifications had proven such reports to be baseless.

While China remains a significant partner to Iran, it has maintained a cautious diplomatic stance since the outbreak of conflict triggered by US-Israeli strikes on 28 February.

Although Beijing condemned the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, it has distanced itself from Tehran’s retaliatory strikes on Gulf states hosting US military bases.

In a recent call with Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, China’s top diplomat Wang Yi urged all parties to “seize every window for peace” and initiate formal negotiations.