Reports emerged on March 7, 2026, that Russia and China were providing Iran with electronic warfare assistance and intelligence sharing as the conflict with the US-Israeli coalition entered its second week — raising the prospect of the war becoming a proxy for broader great power competition.
Intelligence Sharing
According to Western intelligence officials cited by multiple media outlets, both Russia and China had increased the flow of intelligence data to Iranian military commanders since the conflict began. This reportedly included satellite imagery, signals intelligence, and real-time tracking data on US naval movements in the Persian Gulf.
The intelligence sharing was described as going beyond the routine military cooperation that existed between the three nations prior to the conflict. Officials stated that the quality and timeliness of the information being provided had “materially improved” Iran’s ability to target US and allied military assets.
Electronic Warfare Support
Of particular concern to US military planners was the reported provision of electronic warfare capabilities. Sources indicated that Russian-supplied electronic warfare equipment was being used to jam GPS signals and disrupt communications used by US forces operating in and around Iran.
Chinese electronic warfare technology was also reportedly deployed to assist Iran in detecting and tracking stealth aircraft, potentially degrading one of the US military’s key technological advantages.
Russian Motivations
Russia’s support for Iran was seen through the lens of its own confrontation with the West over Ukraine. By assisting Tehran, Moscow could impose additional costs on the United States, stretching American military resources and attention across multiple theaters.
Russian officials publicly denied providing military assistance to Iran, but maintained their criticism of the US-Israeli operation as “an illegal act of aggression against a sovereign nation.” Russia called for an immediate ceasefire and offered to mediate negotiations.
Chinese Calculations
China’s involvement was more carefully calibrated, according to analysts. Beijing had significant economic interests in maintaining stability in the Persian Gulf, where it sources a large share of its oil imports. However, the opportunity to observe US military operations and test Western defense systems through Iranian proxies reportedly outweighed the economic risks.
Chinese officials maintained a public posture of neutrality while calling for “all parties to exercise restraint.” Privately, however, intelligence cooperation appeared to be flowing through established military-to-military channels.
US Response
The Pentagon acknowledged it was aware of “foreign assistance being provided to Iranian forces” but declined to specify the nature or source of that assistance. Senior US officials warned that any nation providing material military support to Iran would face “serious consequences.”
The revelation of Russian and Chinese involvement added a new dimension to an already complex conflict, raising concerns that the war could become a testing ground for great power military technologies and strategies.
NATO Concerns
NATO allies expressed alarm at the reports, with several European governments calling for urgent consultations on the implications of Russian and Chinese involvement. The alliance’s intelligence-sharing mechanisms were reportedly activated to assess the extent of foreign assistance to Iran.
Strategic Implications
The involvement of Russia and China transformed the conflict from a regional war into a potential flashpoint for great power confrontation. Analysts warned that the provision of intelligence and electronic warfare support could establish precedents for future conflicts, lowering the threshold for indirect great power intervention in regional wars.
“We are watching the emergence of a new form of great power proxy conflict,” said one former senior intelligence official. “The support being provided to Iran doesn’t involve boots on the ground, but it significantly changes the military equation.”