that any meaningful military

Both Moscow and Beijing have prioritized their own interests and relationships with Iran’s adversaries over any formal alliance commitments. As Shargh concludes, Russia’s unwillingness to go beyond political statements has severely damaged its credibility as an ally, while China’s realpolitik ensures that any meaningful military support will remain out of reach. Farzan Sabet, a managing researcher at the Geneva Graduate Institute, told RFE/RL that Tehran “doesn’t have any good options” when it comes to foreign military partners. Even if Tehran managed to purchase fighter jets from China, it would need a lot more than it can pay for to be able to maintain aerial superiority in future conflicts, at least in its own skies.