The defense ministers of Russia, China, and Iran convened in Beijing on Wednesday in a closely watched meeting that followed the recent cessation of hostilities between Iran and Israel.
Chinese Defense Minister Admiral Dong Jun, Iranian Defense Minister Major General Aziz Nasirzadeh, and Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov met under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)—a Eurasian political and security bloc that Iran officially joined last year.
Although no official statements have yet been released by Moscow, Beijing, or Tehran regarding the details of the talks, the timing and nature of the meeting suggest that military cooperation and regional security were high on the agenda. Given the meeting's SCO framework, enhancing trilateral military collaboration may have been a key focus.
The recent 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel was almost certainly discussed. However, speculation has also centered on whether the meeting involved potential arms transfers to Tehran. Unconfirmed reports suggest Iran may be seeking to acquire Chinese fighter jets—due to its public profile being raised by Pakistan, whose effectiveness was reportedly demonstrated during recent border skirmishes with India.
Although no concrete evidence has emerged confirming arms deals, observers noted the arrival of several Chinese military aircraft in Iran during the nearly two-week conflict, sparking rumors that Beijing may have been supplying Tehran with military equipment. It is also possible, however, that those flights were for the evacuation of Chinese nationals.
With all three nations currently engaged in varying levels of geopolitical tension with the United States and Western powers, their growing cooperation could indicate a strategic shift. This includes the potential formation of a formal regional alliance to challenge Western influence.
At the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed that Moscow had offered Tehran a mutual defense pact as part of a broader Strategic Partnership Agreement—similar to Russia’s recent agreement with North Korea. Although Iran reportedly declined the offer at the time, its recent confrontation with the U.S. and Israel may prompt a reassessment of its strategic alignment.