Iran turns to China as West tightens military pressure

DDM News

Iran’s Defense Minister, Aziz Nasirzadeh, has arrived in China for a two-day official visit, according to Iranian state broadcaster IRIB.

His arrival on Wednesday marks a significant diplomatic engagement as Iran seeks to strengthen regional alliances following a recent military escalation with Israel.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reports that Nasirzadeh was received by Chinese officials and is expected to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) defense ministers’ summit.

The SCO, a regional security bloc led jointly by China and Russia, includes nine member states: China, Russia, Iran, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and newly admitted Belarus.

The organization serves as a platform for coordinating security policies, conducting joint military drills, and expanding strategic cooperation among its members, many of whom have complex relationships with the West.

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun also held one-on-one meetings in the eastern city of Qingdao with his counterparts from Iran, Belarus, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia, according to a report by China’s official Xinhua news agency.

The timing of Nasirzadeh’s visit is notable, coming just days after United States President Donald Trump brokered a ceasefire between Iran and Israel.

The ceasefire followed nearly two weeks of hostilities that resulted in hundreds of casualties and extensive damage to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

Iran’s government confirmed that several nuclear facilities were targeted and badly damaged by Israeli and US airstrikes during the escalation.

The SCO meeting provides Tehran with an opportunity to present its version of recent events and potentially garner support from regional powers.

Defense and security analysts believe that Iran is using this diplomatic window to shore up strategic alliances and possibly offset growing international isolation.

Nasirzadeh’s participation in the SCO defense meeting also signals Iran’s commitment to multipolar cooperation as an alternative to Western-dominated forums like NATO.

His visit aligns with Tehran’s broader pivot toward the East, a policy that has seen closer military and economic ties with China, Russia, and other Asian powers.

Iran officially became a full member of the SCO in 2023, after years of observer status, marking a milestone in its efforts to gain greater geopolitical leverage outside the West.

The defense summit in Qingdao is expected to address regional security threats, counterterrorism cooperation, and joint military readiness, although Iran’s recent confrontation with Israel is likely to dominate side discussions.

Observers say that while the ceasefire may have calmed tensions for now, the presence of key military leaders from affected countries underscores the fragility of peace in the region.

As talks continue, attention will remain fixed on whether the SCO, once seen as largely symbolic, can evolve into a counterweight to Western military alliances, and how Iran intends to shape its role within that vision.

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