Report: Israel Seeks to Halt Fighter Jet Deal Between China and Iran
The Israeli Consul General in Beijing said that China is the only country capable of halting Iran’s nuclear ambitions: “Iran would collapse if China stopped buying its oil”
By Alert5 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=74197670
In recent weeks, Israel has been operating through several diplomatic channels with China, aiming to influence Beijing to prevent the expansion of Iran’s military armament and curb its nuclear ambitions.
According to a report by Bloomberg News and the website Defense Security Asia, Israel’s Consul General in Beijing, Ravit Baer, recently spoke in Shanghai and stated that China is the only country capable of halting Iran’s nuclear ambitions. According to her, “Iran would collapse if China stopped buying its oil,” referring to the fact that approximately 90% of Iran’s oil exports are directed to China.
Baer added that Beijing holds the ability to significantly influence Iranian policy due to the political and economic leverage it possesses. She noted that China has the power “to change Iran’s malign activities in the region” by applying the appropriate pressure.
The backdrop to Israel’s diplomatic efforts is increasing reports of advanced negotiations between Iran and China over the purchase of J-10C fighter jets. These are advanced Chinese fighter aircraft, whose design was once claimed to be based on Israel’s canceled 1980s "Lavi" project, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries. Currently, the Iranian Air Force operates outdated American-made F-4 Phantom jets and Russian MiG-29s, which is pushing Iran to seek a significant upgrade in its aerial capabilities.
Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh recently attended an economic conference in Shanghai, a visit believed to be connected to the negotiations over the aircraft deal. The J-10C jets are considered 4.5-generation fighters and have demonstrated impressive performance in aerial engagements, including in confrontations between India and Pakistan against French Rafale jets.
Israel is closely monitoring these developments with concern, fearing that Iran’s acquisition of next-generation aircraft would grant it a significant advantage in the regional arena. Jerusalem’s current efforts focus on how China will respond to Israel’s appeals and to Consul General Baer’s statements, and whether it will choose to cancel the military deal with Iran.