PNN – Iran has a new medium- to long-range surface-to-air missile system equipped with active radar guidance, which is capable of giving the country a high level of capability against stealth aircraft and precision weapons often used by the Israeli regime and the United States.
The report points to China’s diplomatic support for Iran and the strengthening of military and intelligence cooperation between the two sides, especially after the 12-day war, and notes that Beijing has consistently emphasized at the diplomatic level its opposition to “the use of force or threat of force in international relations” and “interference in the internal affairs of other countries.” However, based on a number of recent Western reports, it appears that China’s “solidarity” has not been limited to diplomatic statements.
According to Al-Akhbar, according to a report by the Modern Diplomacy research institute based in Greece, China has strengthened intelligence cooperation with Iran, especially after the 12-day war, to counter the influence of the Israeli spy agency, Mossad, in the country, neutralize it, and fill security gaps.
China’s support also includes strengthening Iran’s defense and intelligence capabilities. By providing surveillance satellites, Beijing is trying to increase Tehran’s ability to counter such intrusions, and Iran is seeking to acquire advanced technologies from leading Chinese companies – such as Chang Guang – to develop its capabilities in remote surveillance and intelligence collection and to be able to track the movements of the Israeli regime more accurately.
Tehran has also announced plans to fully exploit the Chinese navigation system known as “BeiDou” – as an alternative to American and Western positioning systems. This move is in an effort to reduce dependence on Western technology, which may be vulnerable to hacking or disruption.
In addition to China’s military efforts to bolster Iran’s deterrence capabilities, leaked reports reveal China’s agreement to help Iran rebuild its ballistic missile arsenal and provide solid-fuel components and guidance systems.
Dryad Global, a London-based intelligence and security firm that specializes in providing real-time risk analysis to commercial vessels, recently published a report showing that Iran is using money from its oil exports to China to finance the purchase and transfer of the Chinese HQ-9 system. This system is a Chinese-made medium- to long-range surface-to-air missile system that uses active radar guidance and is capable of giving Iran a high level of capability against stealth aircraft and precision weapons often used by the Israeli regime and the United States.
According to a report by the Brookings Institution, China has sent “air defense systems, anti-ship missiles, ballistic missile components, and dual-use materials, including raw materials to support Iran’s missile propulsion and guidance systems,” along with technical assistance and training.
Additionally, the Institute for the Study of War reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy will hold joint exercises with Russia and China in the Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean on February 1 and 2. Although these exercises are considered routine, observers believe they are of extraordinary importance, especially given the imminent possibility of military tension between Washington and Tehran.