Days after ceasefire with Israel, Iran receives powerful surface-to-air missile batteries from this country in exchange of…, plans to…

In a strategic move, Iran has received Chinese surface-to-air missile batteries. This move comes after many of Iran’s defensives were destroyed by Israel during their recent 12-day conflict. Interestingly, deliveries of Chinese surface-to-air missile batteries occurred after a de-facto truce was struck between Iran and Israel on 24 June.

Was US aware of the move?

According to reports, the US’s Arab allies were aware of Tehran’s efforts to “back up and reinforce” its air defences and that the White House had been informed of Iran’s progress.

China is the largest importer of Iranian oil, and the US Energy Information Administration suggested in a report in May that nearly 90 percent of Iran’s crude and condensate exports flow to Beijing.

For several years, China has imported record amounts of Iranian oil despite US sanctions, using countries such as Malaysia as a transshipment hub to mask the crude’s origin.

Is this new beginning of China-Iran relationship?

The shipments mark a deepening of Beijing’s relationship with Tehran and come as some in the West noted that China and Russia appeared to keep a distance from Iran amid Israel’s unprecedented attacks.

Israel achieved air superiority over Iran’s skies during the conflict, destroying ballistic missile launch pads and assassinating Iranian generals and scientists.

US President Donald Trump has claimed that Israel and Iran had agreed to a ‘complete and total ceasefire’ soon after Iran launched a limited missile attack on a US military base in Qatar, retaliating for the American bombing of its nuclear sites.

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