Despite their close ties, Iranian observers fear Russia and China could treat Tehran as a bargaining chip to win concessions from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who famously abandoned the Iran nuclear deal in 2018.

Since taking office, reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian has made provocative statements courting the U.S., while affirming Iran and Hezbollah's right to retaliate.

In an interview with Al-Estiklal, Iranian researcher and dissident Yousef Azizi stated that the Iranian regime is unlikely to engage in direct conflict with “Israel” or the US, opting instead for threats.

Iran has accused “Israel” of the assassination of several of its military leaders and nuclear scientists over the years, and these would be the latest killings as Iran moves closer to nuclear weapons capability.

Despite being initially disqualified by Iran's Guardian Council in 2021 for lacking qualifications, Masoud Pezeshkian later ran in the latest electoral race following direct intervention from Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, reasons undisclosed.