China and Russia Flaunt Allyship as US Fights Iran War

Russia stands ready to help offset energy shortfalls for China and other countries amid the crisis triggered by the war in Iran, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Wednesday.

Lavrov, the latest senior foreign official to visit Beijing in recent days, arrived Tuesday for talks on the war in Ukraine and a range of issues central to China-Russia ties.

“Russia can certainly fill the resource gap that has arisen in China and other countries interested in working with us on an equal and mutually beneficial basis,” he said after meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to The Moscow Times.

The visit comes as oil and gas prices have risen sharply worldwide in the nearly seven weeks since U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran began, exacerbated by Tehran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz and retaliatory attacks on energy infrastructure across the region.

China sources roughly 40 percent of its oil imports through the strait, which has been largely blocked since the conflict escalated. Beijing has pushed for a negotiated resolution and the reopening of the waterway, while joining Russia in vetoing a U.N. Security Council Resolution that called for international military efforts to safeguard shipping. Both countries argued the measure failed to address what they see as the root causes of the war.

“Both sides will seize the trend of the times, fully implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, and bring to a new height the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination and our mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said during Wednesday’s regular press briefing.

Newsweek reached out to the Russian Foreign Ministry and the U.S. State Department via email for comment.

Xi said China and Russia should strengthen strategic coordination to defend their shared interests and those of developing nations, according to state broadcaster CCTV. He also called on both countries to demonstrate the responsibility of major powers and permanent members of the U.N. Security Council.

"Firmly uphold and practice multilateralism, work together to revitalize the authority and vitality of the United Nations," Xi was quoted as saying. "Promote the development of the international order in a more just and reasonable direction."

While China is relatively well insulated from energy shocks thanks to diversified imports, large strategic reserves, and investment in renewables, a prolonged disruption could push it to rely more heavily on Russian supplies.

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Vessel Traffic in the Strait of Hormuz

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That could strengthen Russian President Vladimir Putin's hand in negotiations over long-delayed projects such as the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, which would deliver up to 50 billion cubic meters of gas annually to China.

The current disruption also benefits Moscow, analysts say.

“In fact, it can be said the war is saving Russia from potential budget problems,” Chris Weafer, chief executive of consultancy Macro-Advisory, previously told Newsweek.

“It is a double whammy positive, as the market price of oil and gas is a lot higher, and Russia does not have to offer discounts to Asian buyers who have been nervous about sanctions and tariff risk,” he added.

This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.

Newsweek's reporters and editors used Martyn, our Al assistant, to help produce this story. Learn more about Martyn.

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This story was originally published April 15, 2026 at 2:04 PM.