March 17, 2026 | 11:15 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A video claimed to be a Chinese military arms parade sent to support Iran circulated on Facebook [archive] on March 4, 2026. The footage shows rows of soldiers, a parade of missiles, warships, fighter jets, and even armored tanks.
The footage also features clips of several world leaders: Chinese President Xi Jinping, North Korean President Kim Jong Un, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “China reportedly has landed at a strategic Iranian port carrying thousands of medium-range missiles, anti-missile systems, and electronic warfare equipment,” said the video narrator.
So, is the video truly showing the delivery of Chinese military aid for Iran?
FACT CHECK
Tempo verified the content through reverse image searches, visual analysis, and comparisons with credible sources. The results showed that the clip is a collage of old footage unrelated to the 2026 war between Iran and the United States and Israel. Part of the clip was also identified to be AI-generated.
Footage of Event in 2019
At 0:47, the clip that shows a convoy of cars and Chinese flags was recorded when President Xi Jinping inspected troops on Chang’an Avenue in Beijing. This event was part of the 70th National Day celebration on October 1, 2019. Several international media outlets, including Guardian News and Global News, also broadcast this moment.
Meanwhile, at the 1:20 stamp, the clip showing green-patterned missile vehicles matches the Washington Post’s YouTube upload at the 1:23:20 mark. This military parade was also part of the celebrations marking China’s 70th National Day.
The footage of military personnel from minutes 2:34 to 2:36 is similar to a clip posted on the New China TV YouTube channel titled “LIVE: China holds grand gathering, parade on 70th National Day.”
The same applies to the convoy of armored tanks at the 4:12 mark, which is identical to footage from a Washington Post article titled “China's Communist Party marks 70th anniversary of its rule with military parade.” All of these clips are from the 2019 military parade, not recent events.
AI-Generated Clip
The clip showing a meeting between Khamenei, Putin, and Kim Jong Un is generated by AI. Analysis using the Hive Moderation tool indicates a 99.8 percent AI-generated content score.
No Evidence Yet of Chinese Arms Delivery to Iran
In February 2026, Reuters reported that Iran was close to finalizing a deal to purchase supersonic cruise missiles from China. These missiles, with a range of 290 kilometers, are designed to evade ship defenses by flying low and fast. However, there is still no definite timeline for the completion of this purchase.
Citing Bloomberg, there is no evidence of China deploying weapons to support Iran in the conflict with the United States and Israel that erupted on February 28, 2026. China officially halted arms sales to Iran after 2005, following the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) declaration that Tehran had violated the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and was suspected of developing nuclear arms.
Prior to that period, Beijing supplied missiles, aircraft, and artillery to Iran, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. “It's hard to say China is a major arms supplier to Iran, but it does supply dual-use tech,” Yang Zi, a researcher at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, told Bloomberg.
According to Yang, China’s actions are constrained by sanctions as well as considerations regarding its relations with Sunni Gulf states and Israel. A 2025 Pentagon report states that China-Iran defense ties now focus on the sale of dual-use components to support Iran’s ballistic missile and drone programs.
CONCLUSION
Tempo’s verification concludes that the video of a parade of Chinese military equipment sent to Iran is false.
TEMPO FACT-CHECK TEAM
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