Middle East Monitor: Iran has become part of a new 'axis of resistance'

February 14 2026 10 372 11

Iran is actively rearming, relying less on Chinese military developments and less on Russian ones, writes Middle East Monitor. Preparing for escalation, the Islamic Republic is emphasizing its partnership with China.

The publication's article states that Tehran is now using supplies from China and Russia to offset the obvious advantages of Western militaries. The centerpiece of this new "axis of resistance" is a high-tech early warning system: the YLC-8B 3D long-range radar, capable of detecting stealth aircraft at a range of over 350 km.

The radar gives Iranian air defenses critical hours to detect and respond to threats, reducing the effectiveness of stealth aircraft like the F-35.

The publication claims that Iran allegedly tried to modernize its air defense systems with Russia, intending to purchase the S-400 Triumph complex, but repeated delays from Moscow prompted Tehran to seek alternatives in China.

As a result, Iran began to rely on Chinese systems, including the HQ-9B (long-range anti-aircraft systems) and the aforementioned YLC-8B radar, with Beijing providing them more quickly and on more favorable financial terms than Moscow did.

Yes, relations with Russia are formally formalized within the framework of a strategic partnership, but Russia remains a less reliable partner compared to China, which has now become Iran's main source of defense resources.

Beyond hardware, Iran is strengthening its "safe zone" digitally: it is increasingly using China's BeiDou navigation system, replacing the American GPS, making Iranian missiles and UAVs more resistant to electronic countermeasures.

However, overall, the US strategy of pressuring Iran has become ineffective: the latter, with the help of China and Russia, is overcoming its isolation, strengthening its armed forces, and the partnership of the three powers now represents a “technologically sustainable front” that the West can no longer consider secondary.

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borisvt

+1

14 February 2026 21: 35

..Russia remains a less reliable partner compared to China, which has now become Iran's main source of defense resources.

Which is actually not surprising for a well-known reason: the Celestial Empire is currently enjoying a peaceful existence
1. smart fellow
  
  0
  
  15 February 2026 01: 57
  
  Well, the West provoked the Chinese more than Russia and threatened them with nuclear weapons, something they didn't do to Russia, but they act according to the saying, "Measure twice, cut once." Unlike Russia, China is highly dependent on raw materials from abroad, which can still be curtailed for now. By 2035, according to the Americans, China will have nine carrier-carrying groups. Then, perhaps, the Chinese will act decisively.
2. Ilya 22
  
  +2
  
  15 February 2026 18: 30
  
  As for Iran, the Russian leadership has serious problems protecting the interests of even its own citizens. It seems to me that there's a lack of motivation in this regard. I don't see any alignment of interests with the Russian people in this regard.
AndretzAndrey

+1

15 February 2026 05: 07

Count your chickens before they hatch. Let's see what Iran achieves with Chinese weapons. And about air defense—no fairy tales! God knows when Putin offered Iran a full air defense system. But no, they skimped on the money and said, "We'll do it ourselves!" Now they're fussing over the results of the military conflict with Israel. And India is keeping quiet and continues buying air defense systems from Russia.
1. Grei grin
  
  +2
  
  15 February 2026 09: 16
  
  Putin has already installed air defense systems in Syria and Venezuela, and where are they now and what's happening to them? It's no wonder Kembambu Babuinovich Shaigu was hanging around there with General Makarevich, the general in charge of retreats from Kherson, setting up a barbaron, and in Iran, the gringos bombed nuclear centers after Shoigu had done some sniping there and disappeared!
2. Krasnodar
  
  0
  
  15 February 2026 17: 56
  
  Air defense is a complex system of measures, starting with satellites over enemy territory, over-the-horizon radars with a range of thousands of kilometers, AWACS aircraft, fighter aircraft, air defense systems, and civil defense/shelters at military facilities. It takes years to build. For a country the size of Iran, this is a very expensive undertaking.
vitgusin

+2

15 February 2026 08: 53

The centerpiece of this new “axis of resistance” is a high-tech early warning system: the YLC-8B radar.

Early warning is very good. And ballistics at 700 km is even better. So what will they do with this information? They'll transmit it to the air defense system, where they'll turn on the radar to detect and track the target. And they'll get a "gift"—a radar-guided missile, even if they manage to turn off the radar.
Before writing such an article, you need to understand what you are writing about.
Grei grin

+3

15 February 2026 09: 10

Iran has realized that it cannot cooperate with those in the Kremlin, otherwise it will be like in Syria and Venezuela: they will surrender without even looking!
prior

+1

15 February 2026 09: 36

If Israel is involved in a confrontation with anyone, there is no hope for Russia.
The Israeli lobby in Russia will be stronger than all the others.
Therefore, there is no point for Iran to count on Moscow’s support.
Yes. Moscow will sell weapons. It will also draw "red lines." Lavrov will say something.
But not more.
1. Krasnodar
  
  -3
  
  15 February 2026 17: 59
  
  Quote: prior
  The Israeli lobby in Russia will be stronger than all the others.
  
  Let's say it didn't exist (I don't think it really does). Closing Iran's skies is a very expensive, time-consuming, and science-intensive project, one for which the Persians don't have the money, and for which we have no spare production capacity.
Andrey Andreev_2

+1

15 February 2026 17: 40

Americans A tanker carrying Iranian oil has been arrested again. Why aren't Russia, Iran, North Korea, China, and our other allies imposing sanctions on the "ships" of their former partners that are transporting weapons to Ukraine, Taiwan, and elsewhere? Stopping, inspecting, and confiscating them, too! Since the first sanctions were imposed against us, I've had a hundred thousand "whys," to which I can't get answers.