>>510182763People exaggerate the relationship between Iran and Russia. There are too many sources of friction for there to be a deep relationship
* The OPEC+ collaboration is extremely important to Russia, especially with the major swing producers KSA/UAE
* Russia's relationship with Turkey is important. They do a lot of important trade, and it would be quite inconvenient for Russia if the watermelon seller decided to stop respecting the Montreaux convention
* Putin speaks about Israel as if it was the 84th federal subject of Russia
* Russia delayed delivery of a handful of S-300PMU2 batteries to Iran for a decade, because they were afraid of angering the US
* Russia still hasn't delivered the Su-35 squadron they're said to have agreed to sell to Iran, probably because *someone* is exerting diplomatic pressure behind the scenes
The strategic partnership Russia and Iran recently ratified has no defense clause.
Also, even if Russia was willing to sell more weapons, they're already quite busy with domestic and Algerian demand
There are similar problems with China, albeit not as much as with Russia. China loves GCC money and they are the longstanding supplier to KSA's strategic missile force. China likes to have Iran stand firm as a bulwark against further US influence into the Eurasian interior, and China is willing to help prop up Iran's economy in defiance of US sanctions, however any major weapons sale by China to Iran is unlikely.