Chinese intelligence officials sought the help of a Sydney crime figure as the middle man in an operation to smuggle weapons to Islamic militants in Iran and Lebanon.

US counter-terrorist and organised crime investigators, including agents from the FBI, have identified a Sydney criminal identity as a man who brokered the deal between Middle East militant groups and Chinese arms suppliers in about 2011.

Hezbollah members during a military operation in Syria last week. Credit:HEZBOLLAH MEDIA OFFICE HANDOUT

The crime figure is a Sydney money launderer who was a Hezbollah functionary and met with Chinese nationals identified by the US as intelligence operatives.

Hezbollah-aligned figures asked that the man broker the international arms deal, according to briefings from officials who asked not to be identified.