US intelligence assessments indicate that China is preparing to supply new air defence systems to Iran in the coming weeks, CNN reported on Friday, citing three sources familiar with the matter.

According to the report, there are signs that Beijing may route the shipments through third countries in an effort to obscure their origin.

CNN also said, citing unnamed sources, that China is expected to transfer man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS) as part of the shipment.

The US State Department, the White House, and the Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

US President Donald Trump, ​speaking to a group of reporters on Saturday afternoon as he departed the White House to fly ​to Miami, said that “if China does ​that, China can have big problems.”

He did not ‌elaborate.