China has recently been closely monitoring the level of US and Israeli intelligence penetration within Iran, particularly through the Israeli Mossad, especially after the strikes and operations that took place inside Iran between 2025 and early 2026. These operations revealed to China deep security vulnerabilities in sensitive Iranian facilities and databases. The most prominent aspect of China’s move in this regard, aimed at supporting Iran from within in the event of a potential military strike by Washington and Tel Aviv, is its support for Iran’s digital sovereignty. Beginning in January 2026, Beijing launched a strategy to protect the Iranian regime from Mossad and the American intelligence agency “CIA” infiltrations targeting any potential Iranian objectives and to close all security, defense, and military gaps in Iran. This strategy involves Beijing urging its ally Tehran to abandon American and Israeli software and replace it with closed, encrypted Chinese systems that are difficult to penetrate.
This highlights the role of the “Chinese Ninth Bureau,” affiliated with the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS). This bureau functions as the Chinese intelligence service and has begun conducting actual intelligence operations within Tehran itself, countering Mossad activities in Iran and the region. Its focus is on protecting China’s strategic partners, such as Iran and Egypt, from external espionage by Mossad and the “CIA” against Chinese interests and objectives there.
This is where Chinese technical and field cooperation with Iran comes in, through supplying Iran with advanced Chinese sensor systems and radars, such as the YLC-8B system. This system is used to track American stealth aircraft and conduct electronic surveillance. China is also assisting Iran in investigating how its civil registry and passport data were compromised by foreign entities, particularly American and Israeli ones. With China guiding Iran towards a complete Iranian transition to the Chinese BeiDou satellite navigation system as an alternative to the American GPS system to avoid manipulation or to track Iranian targets within the country.
The most prominent aspect of China’s strategic motives for assisting Iran, according to the Chinese perspective, is that any “intelligence chaos” or security collapse in Iran directly threatens its massive investments within the 25-year strategic agreement with Iran and the routes of the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative.
However, despite this Chinese technical and informational support for Iran, the Chinese position remains “cautious.” It generally limits itself to intelligence and cyber support without being drawn directly into any military confrontation to defend Tehran in the event of a large-scale external attack.
Therefore, China is adopting an “active balancing strategy” regarding the current US-Israeli escalation against Iran in February 2026. China seeks to protect its energy and geopolitical interests without becoming embroiled in a direct military confrontation. The practical Chinese stance against a military strike on Iran is characterized by China’s firm position on Mossad infiltration of Iranian institutions. China considers Israeli intelligence operations in Tehran a direct threat to its interests in the Belt and Road Initiative and a threat to the stability of its strategic Iranian partner. China has already taken several practical steps in response, including technological and security support for Iran. In January 2026, Beijing began implementing a strategy aimed at replacing Western technology in Iran with closed, “difficult-to-penetrate” Chinese systems and providing Tehran with advanced cybersecurity and artificial intelligence programs to uncover Mossad vulnerabilities. With China offering digital navigation alternatives to Iran by encouraging Iran to fully transition to the Chinese navigation system known as “BeiDou” as an alternative to the American and Western GPS system to reduce Iran’s reliance on technology that may be vulnerable to hacking or disruption. With China pursuing a policy of intelligence coordination with Iran, China, through the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), is working to establish a “comprehensive security center” to enhance intelligence coordination with Tehran and neutralize external sabotage operations.
Regarding China’s stance in the event of a US strike on Iran, in the event of a US military attack, China’s position is expected to shift from “technical support” to “political condemnation and limited field action.” This would involve a strong Chinese condemnation of any strike on Iran, as China categorically rejects any joint (US-Israeli) military threats against Iran and considers any attack on Iranian facilities a serious violation of international law and the UN Charter. As for China’s expected field military response, it is anticipated that China will not intervene militarily to defend Iran but will instead reinforce its “field deterrence” through joint naval exercises (China, Russia, Iran), such as the exercises scheduled for February 2026 in the Gulf of Oman.
Furthermore, China is committed to “rebuilding Iranian capabilities,” compensating Iran for its military losses (especially missile and defense systems) in the event of strikes, as occurred after the June 2025 escalation. However, China has set a number of strategic limits to its aid and support for Iran. Despite this support, Beijing remains wary of sliding into a full-blown conflict that could threaten the flow of oil from the Gulf. This is what prompts it to consistently call for restraint and a return to diplomatic solutions to avoid “catastrophic consequences” for the global economy.
The current Chinese position in February 2026 regarding the US-Iranian escalation is characterized by a firm rejection of the military option, with a focus on diplomatic channels to protect its strategic interests. This position is summarized by China’s official condemnation and rejection of any military strike against Iran. In January 2026, China warned the UN Security Council that “American military adventurism in the Middle East will push the region into chaos.” China also strongly condemned the US strikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025, describing them as a “flagrant violation” of the UN Charter and international law. Furthermore, China is keen to protect Iranian nuclear facilities, with Beijing emphasizing its rejection of targeting Iranian nuclear facilities under the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
China’s diplomatic and political support for Iran also came in the form of providing international cover. China used its membership in the BRICS group and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation “SCO”) to offer diplomatic backing to Tehran and bolster its resilience against Western pressure. China encouraged political dialogue with Tehran, welcoming the resumption of Iranian-American negotiations in Muscat, Oman, in February 2025. Beijing considered dialogue the only way to avoid a full-scale war. The Chinese Foreign Ministry recently held intensive contacts and high-level consultations with Iranian officials in Beijing to ensure regional stability amidst American threats.
China is keen to maintain strategic military cooperation with its Iranian ally. This is demonstrated by the joint naval exercises China conducted with Iran and Russia in mid-February 2026 in the northern Indian Ocean, which can be interpreted as a message of support for Beijing in the face of American pressure. Chinese technological cooperation with Iran also continues, with Beijing supplying Tehran with advanced military technologies to enhance its defense capabilities. Beijing’s economic motives are multifaceted, as is its commitment to energy security with Iran to help it withstand any potential military strike against Tehran. This is especially true given China’s heavy reliance on Iranian oil and its fear that any potential military strike against Iran could lead to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, directly threatening its energy supplies. This makes Iran’s stability a Chinese national priority. China continues to work with Iran according to the Comprehensive Strategic Framework Agreement, continuing to activate the 25-year agreement with Iran, which includes billions of dollars in Chinese investments. Washington views this as a Chinese attempt to diminish the effectiveness of sanctions.
Therefore, China rejects any full-scale military confrontation, considering it a threat to its vital interests. However, it prefers to play the role of a “constructive mediator” and a catalyst for negotiations to avoid direct involvement in any potential clash with Washington while continuing to provide economic and diplomatic support to Iran.
