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Following a 12-day conflict with Israel that severely degraded its air defenses, Iran is reportedly “rapidly” bolstering its air defense capabilities with Chinese help. Tehran has recently acquired Chinese-made surface-to-air missile batteries, reportedly the HQ-9B, and is said to be paying for them with oil shipments. This deepening military cooperation comes after Israeli and US strikes targeted Iranian military and nuclear sites last month. China is already the largest importer of Iranian oil despite US sanctions.
