Chinese satellite data has enabled Iran to hit US forces with precision, killing three service members at a Jordanian base, according to US officials on Friday.
The data, sourced from Mizart Vision, Earth Eye and Chang Guang, gave Iranian drones the timing advantage needed to strike at the exact moment ships entered the Strait of Hormuz, US intelligence says.
At a White House meeting, US Ambassador David Perdue called the aid "totally unacceptable," while President Trump echoed the stance, demanding Beijing stop providing such intelligence.
Russian advisers also feed Iran with battlefield tactics, but the recent surge in strike accuracy points to the satellite imagery as the decisive factor.
For the families of the fallen, the news is a bitter reminder that every drone launched carries a human name, and the mother of one of the dead soldiers has asked for full transparency.
Following the announcement, the US Treasury is set to impose fresh sanctions on the three Chinese firms, and Washington is coordinating with allies for a unified response.