Iran Turns to China for Advanced Military Equipment Amid Waning Russian Support

Reported by Kokcha News Agency:
Following the recent Israel-Iran conflict, which resulted in the deaths of top Iranian military leaders and the targeting of critical nuclear facilities, Iran is urgently seeking to rebuild its defense capabilities. Despite a strategic partnership agreement and years of close cooperation, Russia’s support during the war has largely been limited to verbal backing, leaving Tehran disillusioned.

Iran’s Shift Toward China
Unconfirmed reports in both Iranian and Western media indicate that Iran is now turning to China in hopes of acquiring advanced military hardware, particularly the Chengdu J-10C multirole fighter jet. Iran’s reformist newspaper Shargh noted that the Iran-Russia alliance, built on shifting interests rather than solid commitments, has been tested during critical moments.

Failed Russian Promises
The newspaper highlighted that, apart from some training jets, none of the promised military equipment from Russia has been delivered to Iran. This failure is attributed to production issues in Russia and diplomatic pressure from Gulf countries, Israel, and the United States. According to Radio Free Europe, this lack of commitment has led Iranian officials and analysts to openly question Russia’s reliability as an ally.

Iran’s Aging Air Force
Iran’s air force is known to be severely outdated, with much of its fleet consisting of U.S. and Soviet-era aircraft acquired before the 1979 revolution. These planes, including the F-14 (Grumman), have been kept operational through local improvisation. The U.S. military retired the F-14 in 2006, and it remains unclear how many of Iran’s outdated fighters are still serviceable.

China’s Reluctance
However, it is uncertain whether China is willing to supply Iran with advanced fighter jets. Andrea Ghiselli, a lecturer at the University of Exeter and research head of the ChinaMed project at TOChina Hub, noted that Beijing’s reluctance to arm Iran is evident.

“Beijing is trying to stabilize its relations with Washington to buy time to increase its technological and economic self-sufficiency. This is more important than rebuilding Iran’s air force,” Ghiselli told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

Regional Considerations
Experts also agree that China’s relationships with Iran’s regional rivals contribute to its hesitancy to strengthen Iran’s military. Hamidreza Azizi from the German Institute for International and Security Affairs pointed out that China values its ties with Sunni Arab neighbors in the Gulf Cooperation Council, such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, which are critical energy suppliers and trade partners, while maintaining cautious relations with Tehran.