Iran is turning to China’s J-10C fighter aircraft to face Israel’s air force after a failed agreement to buy Su-35 fighter with Russia, with the aim of revitalizing its aging air force in the midst of bay tensions.

In a significant shift to the Middle East geopolitical, Iran accelerates negotiations with China to obtain a Multiple Role Fighter Cengdu J-10C, a move caused by the failure of a long-awaited deal with Russia for SU-35 aircraft. The decision comes after the 12 -day conflict between Israel and the United States, which has shown the critical vulnerabilities of the aging air force and Iran’s air defense systems.

Tehran’s shift to Beijing, mentioned by the Iranian newspaper Khorasan and cited by Kommersant, marks a desperate attempt to modernize its prestigious fleet amid escalation of regional tensions. This development not only remodels Iran’s military strategy, but also highlights China’s growing role as a defense supplier in the Persian Gulf, raising questions about the changing power dynamics of the area.

Iran’s Air Force: a relic of past

Iran’s Air Force, officially known as Iran’s “Air Force of the Islamic Republic” [IRIAF]she has been struggling for a long time to maintain her business readiness. According to the International Institute of Strategic Studies, Iran’s Air Force boasted about 150 fighter aircraft before the recent collision, but the majority are relics of a past era.

The backbone of the fleet consists of American-made aircraft acquired by the Shah, before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, including 64 F-4 Phantom II aircraft, 35 F-5E/F Tiger II fighters and 41 F-14A tomcats. In addition, Iran has 18 MIG-29A/UB aircraft acquired by the Soviet Union in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Most of these aircraft are plagued by maintenance problems, with many being considered non-functional due to lack of spare parts and required techniques.

The recent 12 -day war, which began on June 13, 2025, exposed these shortages. Israel’s Rising Lion, which included F-35 fighters and F-15 impact aircraft, Iran’s air defense was flooded, targeting important nuclear facilities in Fordu, Natanz and Isfahan. Iranian sources estimate up to 30% of Iriaf’s operational forces, although the exact data remains unconfirmed.

Iran’s dependence on domestic soil-air missile systems, such as Bavar-373, proved inadequate to the advanced electronic war and Israel’s precision ammunition. The conflict has shown that Iran’s Air Force, once a terrible regional factor, cannot compete with modern -day opponents equipped with cutting -edge technology.
Chengdu J-10c: a modern lifeline board for Iran

The Chengdu J-10C, often referred to as “Vigorous Dragon”, is a single-engine, multifunctional fighter aircraft developed by the Chinese Chengdu Aerospace Corporation. It is considered a modern (4.5-generation aircraft) and is comparable to the American F-16V and the Swedish Gripen E in terms of capabilities and costs. The J-10C features Delta-type wings and anterior wings offering high flexibility for both air-to-air and air missions.

Why China? The collapse of the agreement with Russia

Tehran’s decision to pursue the acquisition of the J-10C stems from a combination of geopolitical and economic actors. In 2023, Iran has completed an agreement with Russia to acquire SU-35 Flakener-E aircraft, with traditions scheduled to begin in the spring of the same year. However, Russia’s prolonged war in Ukraine has burdened its defense industry, leading to significant delays. By March 2025, reports appeared that the SU-35s intended for Iran had been redirected in Algeria, leaving Tehran with empty hands, with China emerging as the most viable option.

A decisive development occurred on June 24, 2025, when the United States had sanctions on the purchase of Iranian oil from China, a move that facilitated negotiations for the J-10Cs. Tehran had previously offers to exchange oil and gas for aircraft, a proposal that Beijing rejected because of its insistence on cash payments.

The relaxation of sanctions has abolished this obstacle, allowing Iran to use its revenue from oil to fund the deal. According to Kommersant, the negotiations have now been reduced by an initially ambitious number of 150 aircraft to 36, reflecting Iran’s financial constraints and China’s careful approach to large -scale arms exports.

China’s growing influence on the world weapons market also plays a role. The recent success of the J-10C with the Pakistani Air Force, which allegedly used the aircraft to shoot down Indian fighter Rafale into a collision in May 2025, has reinforced its reputation. The National Security Journal site reported that the PL-15 rockets and the J-10C AESA radar gave Pakistan a decisive advantage, a performance that probably caught Iran’s attention. China’s willingness to supply not only aircraft but also air defense and radar systems, as Pravda notes, further sweetens the deal on Tehran.

(And) energy cooperation

In addition, Iran’s oil imports reached the record of 1.8 million barrels a day between 1 and 20 June, according to Vortexa data.

The data showed that China’s oil imports from Iran were on average 1.46 million barrels a day from June 1 to June 27, about 500,000 barrels a day more than China’s estimated imports from Iran in May.