Iran Confirms Military Support from Russia and China Amid Ongoing Conflict

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed on Saturday, March 14, 2026, that Russia and China are providing Iran with various forms of assistance, including military support, in the country's ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel. Araghchi made the remarks in an interview with the MS NOW television channel. The admission marked a significant public acknowledgment by a senior Iranian official of the scope of foreign backing Tehran has received. The statements came days after a major political transition inside Iran, following the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as the country's third Supreme Leader. The interview drew immediate international attention, with American officials having previously claimed that Russia and China were supplying Iran with support.

The Strait of Hormuz has long been considered one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints, connecting the Persian Gulf to the open ocean. Control over or disruption of the strait has historically been a central element of Iranian strategic deterrence against Western pressure. Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed as Iran's third Supreme Leader in March 2026, following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, who had held the position for decades. The 2026 Iran war represents the most direct military confrontation between Iran and the United States and Israel in the country's modern history.

Araghchi names Russia and China as strategic partners Araghchi described Russia and China as strategic partners in Iran's conflict with the United States and Israel, according to reporting by multiple Polish and Ukrainian outlets citing the MS NOW interview. He stated that the cooperation extended across multiple domains, with military assistance explicitly included in his characterization. The foreign minister did not specify the precise nature or scale of the military support being provided by either country. His remarks aligned with claims that senior American officials had previously made regarding Russian and Chinese involvement, which Tehran had not publicly confirmed until this interview. The public acknowledgment by a cabinet-level official carries diplomatic weight distinct from earlier denials or silence on the matter. Araghchi has served as Iran's foreign minister since August 2024.

Hormuz closed to American and Israeli vessels, minister says Araghchi also addressed the status of the Strait of Hormuz during the same interview, stating that the waterway is closed to vessels belonging to what he termed enemy nations — specifically the United States and Israel — as well as their allies. He clarified that the strait remains open to all other countries, a framing intended to limit the diplomatic fallout of any blockade posture. The distinction between enemy and non-enemy shipping is significant given the strait's role in global energy transit. The statement effectively confirmed that Iran is applying selective access restrictions to one of the world's most consequential maritime passages. No confirmed information is available from the source articles on how this policy is being enforced operationally or what vessels have been turned away.

New Supreme Leader takes power days before minister's interview The interview took place against the backdrop of a major leadership transition inside Iran. Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed as the third Supreme Leader of Iran on March 8, 2026, following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei. Mojtaba Khamenei, born on September 8, 1969, is an Iranian Shia cleric and the second child of the previous Supreme Leader. His appointment came roughly one week before Araghchi's public confirmation of Russian and Chinese military assistance. The timing of the foreign minister's statements may reflect a consolidation of the new leadership's public posture toward Iran's international alliances. The source articles do not contain confirmed information on whether Mojtaba Khamenei made any direct public statements in connection with Araghchi's interview.