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President Donald Trump has given a direct threat to China to avoid supplying weapons to Iran, especially new air defense systems that have been indicated to receive delivery in a few weeks. In a statement to reporters as he left the White House to go to Florida on Saturday, Trump indicated that the Chinese authorities are going to have massive problems in case they do just that.

The comments are made after a CNN story that quoted intelligence sources in the US that Beijing is developing plans to sell sophisticated air defense hardware, including possibly shoulder-fired anti-air ballistics (MANPADS), to Tehran. This is very timely considering that the region is under a precarious ceasefire agreement following the recent US-Iran clash and unsuccessful marathon peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Trump has not outlined specific repercussions but in the past has implied that he would slap down tariffs on nations that arm Iran. He also refused to verify whether he had even brought up the issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping, with whom he is to hold a meeting in the near future. The threat contributes to mounting geopolitical tension as the US still has its naval blockade plans for the Strait of Hormuz and has military options against Iran. China is yet to react publicly to the allegations or the response by Trump.