International relations researcher Mohsen Farhani said China and Russia are unlikely to participate in new United States sanctions against Iran. In an interview with Al Jazeera from Tehran, published on August 24, 2026, he said Washington may struggle to win sufficient support from allies and other important countries for the measures.

Farhani attributed China and Russia’s expected non-participation to their already tense relations with the United States. He also pointed to Iran’s economic ties with China, saying large volumes of Iranian oil are exported there and that Iran is an important economic partner for Beijing.

The researcher said Iran retains influence over global trade routes and has significant leverage through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab. He also said regional countries increasingly doubt the credibility and capacity of US security guarantees. According to Farhani, this loss of confidence could discourage countries from joining the sanctions, leaving the measures largely unilateral.