Iran’s Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh has arrived in Qingdao, China, shortly after a ceasefire was declared. He is set to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) defense conference amid increasing scrutiny from Western countries. Following the recent Iran-Israel conflict, Tehran faces significant pressure and is signaling a strategic pivot toward stronger ties with China and its regional allies. This move comes as nuclear tensions escalate and cooperation with the IAEA declines, potentially reshaping the geopolitical landscape beyond the Middle East.