Washington: China's biggest chipmaker, SMIC, has reportedly sent chipmaking tools to Iran's military, as claimed by two senior Trump administration officials. This development has drawn significant attention to Beijing's involvement in the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran, which is now in its second month.
According to Anadolu Agency, SMIC, already under US sanctions due to alleged connections with the Chinese military, began the transfer of these tools to Iran nearly a year ago. The officials, speaking under anonymity, expressed that there is no indication that the supply of these tools has ceased. They further suggested that the tools provided by SMIC could be utilized for various electronics requiring chips.
The Economic Times reported that this collaboration "almost certainly included technical training on SMIC's semiconductor technology." However, the officials did not clarify whether the tools supplied were originally of American origin.
Requests for comments from SMIC and the Chinese Embassy in Washington went unanswered. Meanwhile, the Chinese government has asserted that its trade with Iran remains within the bounds of normal commercial activities.
SMIC, which was added to a US trade blacklist in 2020, faces restrictions on its access to American exports. The company has consistently denied allegations of having ties to China's military-industrial sector.