In mid-February 2026, Iranian media outlets and channels published a video documenting details of the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Zarqa, northern Jordan, from the air, accompanied by explicit threats to target and destroy it in the event of a “full-scale war.” It is worth noting that some Iranian officials explicitly called on social media platforms for “preparing to seize the Jordanian military base and capture American soldiers” after striking it with missiles. These Iranian threats to Washington come amidst a significant military and diplomatic escalation in the region, according to the data from February 2026. The published Iranian video shows detailed images of the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base and its runways, along with messages warning of Iran’s technical capability to render the base inoperable with high precision. As for the reason for the Iranian targeting, Iranian officials and media claim that the Jordanian military base is used as a central hub for American military deployment and a center for operations to counter Iranian missiles and protect Israel.
These Iranian threats against the United States and the Jordanian base coincided with the deployment of US reinforcements in Jordan and the region, and Chinese satellites detected the arrival of a massive US air fleet at the base, including F-35A, F-15E Strike Eagles, and A-10C aircraft. This was in addition to the deployment of “THAAD missile defense systems.” These Iranian threats also occurred within the context of the political events and mounting pressure on Tehran. This “Iranian media war” coincided with indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington in Geneva, where Iran sought to use its missile capabilities as leverage in the negotiations.
As for the Chinese position on the Iranian media’s threat to destroy the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, this stems from the role of Chinese technology in monitoring US field, military, defense, security, and intelligence movements on the ground, both within the Jordanian Muwaffaq Salti Air Base and the Qatari Al Udeid Air Base, which also houses US military bases. Chinese surveillance technology monitored all US military movements within US military bases in the Middle East and reported them to the Iranian side. Chinese tracking and satellite technology revealed the US military deployment at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, as detected by Chinese satellite systems such as MizarVision. High-resolution images were published showing the US military deployment at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, including the deployment of “THAAD missile defense batteries.”
China contributed to guiding Tehran militarily in intelligence and technical intelligence regarding the US preparations at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan through Chinese monitoring of the US THAAD defense systems. Commercial Chinese satellite imagery from February 2026 revealed the US deployment of the THAAD air defense system at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. In addition to China’s role in analyzing Iran’s “information warfare,” Chinese analysts interpret the revelation of the American military presence at the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan as part of the conflict’s shift towards what they call “smart and information warfare.” They argue that Chinese technology helped Tehran track the movements of American forces in real time, thus undermining the “element of surprise” upon which Washington relies for launching swift military strikes against Iran.
Given that the Jordanian media’s publication of these images of the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base reflects China’s ability to accurately monitor American strategic and military movements in the region, it contributes to revealing American defensive preparations to counter any potential Iranian threats. This enhances transparency on the “battlefield” directed against Iran, a Chinese ally. Despite this, Chinese policy toward the tensions between Iran and the United States, including the threats directed at American bases in Jordan, such as Muwaffaq Salti, is characterized by a consistent call for restraint and a rejection of the use of force or the threat of force in international relations. The official Chinese position on American military threats against Iran, which rejects the threat of force, has been repeatedly emphasized in statements by the Chinese Foreign Ministry (in remarks by spokesperson Mao Ning), stressing Beijing’s opposition to the use of force or the threat of force and the necessity of respecting the sovereignty and security of states in accordance with international law and the UN Charter. With China’s call for de-escalation, urging all parties to take actions that contribute to peace and stability in the Middle East and avoid an escalation that could spiral out of control and plunge the entire region into a full-blown regional conflict.
Regarding the readings and analyses of Chinese analysts on the Iranian position concerning the threat posed by those American military bases in the region, which are targeting Iran itself, some Chinese experts believe that an Iranian strike on American bases in neighboring countries like Jordan could lead to Tehran’s diplomatic isolation and push these countries toward a closer alliance with Washington. Therefore, Beijing may be among those dissuading Iran from an excessive “direct military response” to avoid such escalation. Consequently, Chinese think tanks concerned with assessing the Iranian reaction to the American military bases deployed in Jordan, Qatar, and the region have expressed Chinese apprehension about the potential for a comprehensive escalation. Ding Long, a professor at the Shanghai Institute for Middle East Studies, warns that if Iranian facilities are attacked, all options for retaliation will be on the table, including directly targeting American interests and seizing control of the Strait of Hormuz. With Chinese military experts analyzing the “parallel pressure” strategy, they describe the American moves against Iran as a parallel “pressure and negotiation” strategy. However, they anticipate that Iran will not easily back down and will continue to use its regional bases as deterrent tools.
Here, Chinese military think tanks affiliated with the People’s Liberation Army view these American military bases, whether at the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan or the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, among others, as a “destabilizing” factor in the Middle East. Therefore, Chinese military analysts, particularly within Beijing’s security circles, have consistently offered insights and analyses that the widespread presence of American bases in countries like Jordanian Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, Qatar, and Kuwait constitutes a “destabilizing factor” in the region. Furthermore, Chinese analysts consider Iranian threats to these bases a natural consequence of what they describe as the “American militarization” of the Middle East, asserting that the countries of the region are capable of protecting their security without external intervention or any American oversight. Here, the readings and analyses of Chinese military analysts and experts regarding the Iranian position on the American military bases deployed in Jordan and the Middle East are characterized by a mixture of warnings against American “military adventurism” and veiled strategic support for Iran, with a focus on the role of Chinese intelligence and technology in changing the rules of engagement in the region in Tehran’s favor.
To this end, China seeks to achieve a “strategic balance” in the region to assist Iran while simultaneously avoiding American military escalation against it. China supports a strategy of “avoiding direct military involvement in support of Iran.” Despite Chinese political and economic support for Iran, China seeks to avoid becoming part of direct military conflicts to safeguard its economic interests and regional stability. This is coupled with Chinese warnings against “war escalation.” Beijing has cautioned that any attack or military response could have “indirect effects” that destabilize the entire region and weaken the global economy, which is not in China’s interest. With China raising the principle of “dialogue as an alternative,” emphasizing that “dialogue is the only way” to resolve disputes, it recently held high-level talks with Iranian and American officials to urge de-escalation. China’s strategic position on US escalation plans, primarily against Iran, is underscored by its principled opposition to escalation. Beijing officially rejects any large-scale US military plans against Tehran, warning that “the world will not enjoy peace if the Middle East remains unstable.” While providing technical and diplomatic support to Iran, China has diplomatically called for restraint and militarily sought to integrate Chinese communications systems and software into Iran’s defense infrastructure to reduce its vulnerability to US and Israeli cyberattacks.
Based on the preceding military analysis, we understand the extent of Chinese support for Iran, as China condemns any military threats against Tehran and monitors the American base in Jordan via its satellites, but exerts political pressure towards de-escalation and dialogue to avoid a full-blown regional war in the area.
