Iran has conducted joint military exercises named the “Maritime Security Belt” together with Russia and China in the Gulf of Oman and the northern Indian Ocean. The exercises, held annually, aim to reduce the likelihood of a U.S. attack. Political circles in Washington, however, are reportedly unconcerned, believing that if an attack were to occur against Iran, Russia and China would not intervene militarily. Instead, Moscow and Beijing would issue statements opposing any conflict.

Axar.az reports that political analyst Elkhan Shahinoglu explained that Russia and China are preoccupied with other priorities:

“Russian President Vladimir Putin has directed his country’s military and diplomatic resources toward Ukraine, and the Kremlin is not in a position to save Iran. Chinese leader Xi Jinping, meanwhile, is busy conducting purges within the military. According to Western media, following anti-corruption investigations against army generals, only two officials remain in China’s Central Military Commission (CMC), one of whom is Xi Jinping himself. He has been forced to centralize operational command of the People’s Liberation Army entirely under his control. Investigations continue into Vice Chairman of the Ministry of Defense Zhang Youxia and Chief of the Joint Staff Liu Chenli, both suspected of serious violations of discipline and law. This is an unprecedented event in the history of the People’s Republic of China.”

Shahinoglu added that despite the arrests in the Chinese military, Beijing continues to expand its nuclear capabilities:

“While Washington demands that China join a nuclear arms reduction treaty along with Russia, Beijing has refused. For this reason, Washington does not wish to sign a new nuclear agreement with Moscow. Additionally, according to CNN citing intelligence sources, China has developed a new generation of nuclear weapons and conducted tests. The tests are part of a broader project to modernize China’s nuclear arsenal to make it one of the most advanced in the world. Beijing’s goal is clear: to match the U.S. and Russia in nuclear capabilities.”