In a significant shift in Middle Eastern geopolitics, Iran is accelerating negotiations with China to acquire Chengdu J-10C multirole fighter jets, a move prompted by the failure of a long-anticipated deal with Russia for Su-35 aircraft. The decision comes on the heels of a bruising 12-day conflict between Israel and the United States, which exposed critical vulnerabilities in Iran’s aging air force and air defense systems.
Tehran’s pivot to Beijing, reported by Iran’s Khorasan newspaper and cited by Kommersant, signals a desperate bid to modernize its dilapidated fleet amid escalating regional tensions. This development not only reshapes Iran’s military strategy but also underscores China’s growing role as a defense supplier in the Persian Gulf, raising questions about the region’s shifting power dynamics.
