Why Iran should not count on Russia and China
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi (C) welcomes Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov (L) and Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazeem Gharibabadi before a meeting regarding the Iranian nuclear issue at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on March 14, 2025.
– | Afp | Getty Images
As U.S. and Israeli strikes entered their third day, Iran’s close allies — Russia and China — have so far responded with only muted criticism, and that exposes the hard limits of its “strategic partnerships” with Moscow and Beijing.
Officials from Russia and China have condemned the U.S.-led strikes but stopped short of pledging military or civilian support to Tehran.
In a phone call with his Russian counterpart on Sunday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said condemned the attacks, which killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. He said it was “unacceptable for the U.S. and Israel to launch attacks against Iran … still less to blatantly assassinate a leader of a sovereign country and instigate regime change.”
The foreign ministry of Russia, which is bogged down in its invasion of Ukraine, issued a statement saying that the “acts of aggression” violated international law and the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, and were “destabilising the situation across the entire region.”
The pair reiterated their leaders’ call for an immediate ceasefire and return to diplomatic dialogue to resolve conflicts. On Sunday, Trump warned that the U.S. combat operation in Iran would continue until all objectives are achieved, potentially stretching into the next four weeks.
‘Iran has no real ally’
Gabriel Wildau, managing director specializing in China at advisory firm Teneo, said that China’s official statement was “strongly condemnatory, but beyond this rhetoric I don’t see China’s government taking concrete action to support Tehran.”
“Preserving détente with the U.S. remains a strategic priority for China’s leadership,” Wildau said, adding he expected a top-level meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping to take place later this month as planned.
Trump and Xi discussed a swath of issues, including Iran, during their last phone call on Feb. 4. They’re expected to meet during Trump’s visit to China.
“Beijing may seek concessions on issues more directly related to its interests, such as Taiwan and trade, in exchange for its significantly watered-down messaging on Iran,” said Ahmed Aboudouh, a fellow at Chatham House, a London-based policy think tank.
Niutanqin, a social media account with links to Chinese state media widely seen as a mouthpiece for Beijing, wrote Monday that “Iran has no real ally,” adding that even closer nations will prioritize their own national interests over lifting Tehran out of the crisis.
China’s restrained stance in backing Iran militarily is not new.
Last year, Beijing criticized the U.S. and Israel’s strikes on Iran but did not provide material support to Tehran, according to Chatham House, a…