The US F-15E Strike Eagle shot down over southwestern Iran last month was likely hit by a Chinese-made shoulder-launched missile, according to sources cited by NBC.US officials are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the April shooting, which marked the first time in decades that an American fighter plane was shot down by enemy fire.At the time, President Donald Trump said the plane was hit by a shoulder-fired missile. The weapons, commonly known as man-portable air defense systems or MANPADS, stand about seven feet long, weigh about 40 pounds and are widely used to target low-flying aircraft.Two crew members aboard the F-15 ejected safely over Iran. According to the Pentagon, the pilot was rescued within seven hours, while the weapons systems officer was found and rescued two days later after hiding in the foothills of the Zagros Mountains. Officials said it was not clear whether the missile that downed the F-15 was newly arrived or came from the old Iranian stockpile.In response to questions about the F-15 incident, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy said: “China always acts prudently and responsibly on the export of military products, and maintains strict controls in accordance with China’s laws and regulations on export control and reasonable international obligations. China opposes groundless slander and ill-intentioned cooperation.”In the early days of the conflict, China may have provided Iran with a long-range early warning radar capable of detecting stealth aircraft, according to a source familiar with the matter and a US official. It is unclear whether the radar system, known as YLC-8B, was deployed during the war.The Trump administration has also accused China of supporting Iran through satellite services. Earlier this month, the State Department imposed sanctions on three Chinese satellite companies, alleging they provided imagery and data that helped Iran target US forces in the Middle East. China denied the allegations.Despite those concerns, a US official familiar with the discussions told NBC News that any Chinese aid had little impact on the battlefield.“It was not significant support. It had no decisive operational impact,” the official said.Iran’s alleged use of Chinese-made military equipment has added a new dimension to US-China relations at a time when US and Iranian officials are seeking an end to the conflict. Talks are still ongoing, while what the US describes as “defensive” strikes continue.The Trump administration struck a ceasefire with Iran earlier this month ahead of a crucial meeting with President Xi Jinping. China, the main buyer of Iranian oil exports, has repeatedly called for an end to the war.“At some point we are not insulated from global oil prices, because we buy from the global market, but other countries around the world are paying much higher prices,” the Secretary of State said. marco rubio Said during his visit to China. “They have to be involved too.”However, Rubio rejected the suggestion that Washington is dependent on Beijing’s aid, saying, “We’re not asking China for help. We don’t need their help.”China supplied large amounts of military equipment to Iran during the 1980s and 1990s, including ballistic missiles, anti-ship missiles, tanks, artillery, and fighter jets.after a united nations According to experts and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, after an arms embargo was imposed on Iran in 2006, China reduced major arms sales and instead provided components and technologies for both civilian and military applications. After this Iran expanded its domestic arms production industry.Experts say that despite American sanctions, China has continued to provide economic aid to Iran. Craig Singleton, senior director of the China program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said Beijing has also helped Iran strengthen its domestic surveillance systems and maintain its military through technology transfers and other dual-use items.