Iran is still trapped in the Cold War mindset of the old U.S.-Soviet rivalry and completely fails to understand the current dynamics of China-U.S. competition.
The U.S.-Soviet Cold War was basically two idiots trying to outdo each other: today you give your little brother a full set of weapons and equipment, tomorrow I give mine an entire industrial system.
China-U.S. competition is completely different. One side insists on non-alignment: being anti-U.S. is fine, but if you use the banner of anti-Americanism to morally blackmail others and freeload, forget it. At most, you’ll get some trade support. The other side is even more ruthless: while waving the anti-China flag, it devours its own little brothers; even trade has become a favor bestowed on them, and the EU, Japan, and South Korea have all become blood bags.
Iran is a textbook idiot: “I’m anti-U.S., I’m very important, so China should aid me and send troops.” Still dreaming!
