Why Have China and Russia Just Stepped Out Of The Shadows In The U.S.-Iran War?
As with all wars, particularly in the world’s main oil and gas repository of the Middle East, the U.S./Israel-Iran conflict has long threatened to widen out to include other interested parties aside from the main protagonists. The involvement of Washington’s and Tel Aviv’s allies so far has been limited to intelligence sharing and strictly defensive air support, rather than participating in…
China and Russia have recently emerged from the shadows in the U.S.-Iran conflict, with their involvement shifting from diplomatic cover and economic support to more direct military assistance. Russian intelligence reports now indicate that Moscow is providing Iran with real-time satellite feeds and intelligence on U.S. targets, allowing Iran to conduct more precise retaliatory strikes.
Additionally, Iran's new drones and missiles benefit from tracking Russia's GLONASS satellite navigation system and China's BeiDou-3 system, making them highly precise against U.S. bases and allies. China has also supplied Iran with up to 400 portable air-defense systems (MANPADS), which are highly accurate against helicopters, drones, and low-flying jets, and can be deployed by basic operational training in less than a week.
These developments have raised concerns about the potential impact on global oil markets and the U.S.-led "Abraham Accords" efforts to normalize relations between Israel and other Middle Eastern countries. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran could block significant oil and LNG flows, while Iranian drones and missiles pose a threat to U.S. energy installations and infrastructure, including the tourism sector.
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