Sources say Iran used Chinese-made missileused Chinese-made missile to down US fighter jet
Iran may have used a Chinese-made missile to shoot down a US fighter jet during the fighting between Iran and Israel, according to reports published on May 29 and May 30, 2026.
The claims, if confirmed, would point to a wider flow of advanced weapons into the conflict and raise fresh concerns for US-China tensions over arms transfers to Iran.
US officials
US officials have pointed to President Donald Trump’s comments that Xi Jinping assured him China would not provide military equipment to Iran. They have framed the reports as part of a broader concern that outside support could deepen the conflict and threaten American aircraft in the region.
Iranian and report-based accounts
The reports describe the aircraft loss as the result of Iranian use of a Chinese-made missile, though the articles do not show Iran publicly confirming that account. From that view, the focus is on battlefield capability and the possibility that Iran obtained weapons beyond what Western governments expected.
Chinese government position
China has continued to call for an end to the war while rejecting the idea that it is fueling the fighting. Beijing’s stance is that it does not want military escalation in the region and is not providing the kind of support the reports suggest.
- China is the largest buyer of Iranian oil exports.
- The F-15 entered service long before many current air-defense systems were designed.
- Iran and China have expanded economic ties for decades despite Western sanctions.
US-Iran Ceasefire War
The United States launched military strikes against Iran on June 26, 2026, in response to a drone attack on a commercial cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a "foolish violation" of the 60-day ceasefire agreement signed just days earlier[2][4][14].
26 June, 09:35 PM
US launches strikes against Iran following commercial ship attack26 June, 04:47 PM
Trump calls Iran drone attack on cargo ship a ceasefire violation
