# China arms support to Iran > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/china-arms-support-to-iran > Updated: 2026-08-05T07:00:21.000Z. Sources: 12. Developments: 2. In late July, China publicly called for a cease‑fire in the Iran war, cut its crude imports by about 40 % and tapped strategic reserves, yet U.S. intelligence reported that Beijing was quietly providing Iran with portable air‑defence missile systems (QW‑12, FN‑16) and negotiating sales of supersonic anti‑ship missiles, along with electronic components and other hardware for its rocket and drone programmes. A few days later, China escalated the effort, establishing a large air bridge that used Y‑20 transport aircraft, rail links and Caspian‑Sea routes to move substantial quantities of weapons and supplies to Tehran, describing the deliveries as legitimate military agreements. At the same time, the United States began pulling Patriot missile‑defence systems from bases in Iraqi Kurdistan and other Gulf locations, consolidating its remaining forces as it faced interceptor shortages. The snapshots together show a shift from limited, covert missile transfers to a broader, logistically‑intensive arms‑supply operation by China, coinciding with a U.S. drawdown of regional missile‑defence assets. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-05: China Supplies Arms to Iran as US Pulls Patriot Systems from Middle East China delivers weapons to Iran via an air bridge while the US withdraws Patriot missile systems and reduces its Gulf bases, citing interceptor shortages and strategic refocusing. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/china-supplies-arms-to-iran-as-us-pulls-patriot-systems-from-middle-east ### 2026-07-31: China backs Iran war with missile supplies while slashing oil imports China has cut Iranian oil imports by 40%, used reserves, and is reported to supply air‑defence missiles and missile technology to Iran despite publicly denying weapons transfers. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/china-backs-iran-war-with-missile-supplies-while-slashing-oil-imports --- Cite as: China arms support to Iran. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/china-arms-support-to-iran