China’s defense links seen bolstering Iran’s arsenal as Tehran leans on proxies, analysts say

Beijing’s deepening defense ties with Tehran are helping extend Iran’s reach across Middle East conflicts, according to U.S. officials and international analysts, who say China’s support for Iran’s weapons programs is increasingly intertwined with Tehran’s long-standing use of regional proxy groups.

U.S. intelligence and defense analysis indicate China is supplying drone components and industrial materials used to sustain and expand Iran’s drone production, including engines, batteries and electronic systems. China has also been linked to providing air defense systems and missile-related technology, including anti-ship capabilities that enhance Iran’s ability to target naval forces in regional waters.

Analysts say these flows, combined with assistance from Russia, are strengthening Iran’s battlefield capabilities without drawing China or Russia directly into the fighting.

Russia has expanded military cooperation with Iran through fighter jets, helicopters and air defense systems, according to analysts, who also point to a growing reciprocal relationship in which Iran supplies drones used by Russia in Ukraine in exchange for technical and military support.

This dynamic, experts say, is helping Iran rebuild and sustain its military, particularly in drones and missiles, even after battlefield setbacks. At the same time, Tehran continues to rely on a network of armed proxy groups across the region.

The Council on Foreign Relations notes that Iran funds, trains and equips groups in Lebanon, Gaza, Yemen, Iraq and Syria — including Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis and Shiite militias — as part of a decades-long strategy.

The Harvard Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs describes the approach as an effort to export Iran’s revolution through non-state actors, often framed as an “axis of resistance” against the United States and Israel. The combination of foreign military support and proxy forces gives Iran strategic depth, allowing it to influence multiple conflicts while limiting the risk of direct large-scale confrontation, analysts say.

This assessment comes as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other officials underscore that Iran’s battlefield capabilities are increasingly tied to outside support and regional allies — not just its own military forces.

Experts also emphasize that neither Russia nor China has entered Iran’s conflicts directly, suggesting both powers are calibrating their involvement to avoid more serious escalation, even as their support helps sustain Iran’s drones, missiles and air defenses.