Analysis: Can Russia and China rebuild the Iranian regime’s military infrastructure?

Policy analyst Amine Ayoub writes in Ynet that Israeli strikes have dealt a heavy blow to the physical war machine of the regime ruling Iran, shattering missile assembly lines, drone facilities, and proxy command structures across the Middle East. However, the analysis warns that destroying physical infrastructure does not equate to a permanent cessation of the threat, as international financial and supply networks remain operational.

According to the analysis, Russia acts as a 'financial backdoor' by providing banking channels to sanctioned entities of the regime ruling Iran. Meanwhile, China provides the economic and industrial engine necessary for rebuilding Tehran's military capabilities through massive oil purchases and the supply of dual-use technologies, such as sensors, specialized engines, and missile propellant precursors.

The report emphasizes that while Israel can target missile factories in Isfahan, it cannot bomb Russian banks in Moscow or microchip distributors in Shenzhen. This creates a strategic challenge where the regime ruling Iran attempts to compensate for losses to its military hardware over time by leveraging foreign partners.

Ultimately, the analysis argues that to contain the long-term ambitions of the regime ruling Iran, kinetic military strikes must be paired with coordinated international efforts to block its financial lifelines and external supply chains. Israel's strategic success in this arena depends on cooperation with Western allies to aggressively pressure the commercial and financial networks that facilitate the regeneration of Tehran's military power.